Gaviña Coffee Company, the family business behind Don Francisco’s Coffee and Café La Llave, has announced a major recycling milestone just before Earth Day (April 22). Working with TerraCycle, the company has recycled over 2 million used coffee bags, single-serve coffee pods, and espresso capsules through its Coffee Bag and Pod Free Recycling Program. The height of these items stacked together would equal 226 Empire State Buildings, and the recycled material can create 396 park benches.
Lisette Gaviña Lopez, a 4th generation coffee roaster at Gaviña Coffee Company, thanked loyal customers for making this achievement possible and expressed hope that it would inspire more coffee consumers to contribute to a sustainable future.
The Coffee Bag and Pod Free Recycling Program, launched in 2020, offers a simple, free way for consumers to recycle used coffee pods and capsules from Don Francisco’s Coffee and Café La Llave. Later this month, the program will also include Costco-exclusive brand Jose’s® Gourmet Coffee bags.
With the help of over 6,600 participants, TerraCycle has recycled more than 2.3 million coffee pods and bags so far, totaling over 57,000 pounds of recycled material. This material is used to create new products like playgrounds and park benches. The program also lets participants donate points earned from recycling to select charitable institutions.
Tom Szaky, TerraCycle CEO and Founder, emphasized that reaching this milestone shows consumers’ commitment to a greener world and coffee industry. The Coffee Bag and Pod Free Recycling Program encourages coffee lovers to recycle more single-serve pods and capsules, reducing waste sent to landfills and incinerators.
The Coffee Bag and Pod Free Recycling Program is open to everyone, including individuals, schools, offices, and community organizations. Participants can also donate to select charities based on points earned for recycling. To join the recycling program, simply register at terracycle.com/gavina, collect used packaging, print prepaid labels, and mail the waste to TerraCycle.