Benefits of Disposition Planning
Keurig Green Mountain’s failure to account for it’s K-cup final disposition is causing the company to reinvent part of its business model. Keurig’s failure to produce an environmentally friendly K cup is part of the reason the *company is investing $5M over the next 5 years in recycling solutions.(*according to the Keurig Green Mountain Sustainability Report Fiscal 2013)
Keurig has become a very successful company in a relatively short period of time. The company’s best selling product, the K cups, have found a place among millions of homes and offices over the past few years. In fact, as I write this article I am sipping on a warm cup of my favorite coffee.
But as with many things in life, success can lead to unforeseen challenges.
Keurig is facing the challenge of reinventing part of its operations in 
order to become a more sustainable and socially responsible company. Keurig’s best selling single serve cups are reportedly nearly impossible to recycle in their current form. It is estimated that 9.8 billion cups end up in landfills annually. This is enough to circle the planet, more than ten times over!
order to become a more sustainable and socially responsible company. Keurig’s best selling single serve cups are reportedly nearly impossible to recycle in their current form. It is estimated that 9.8 billion cups end up in landfills annually. This is enough to circle the planet, more than ten times over!As a result, Keurig has vowed to make 100% of its K cups recyclable by 2020. In my opinion, this is a very responsible endeavor, and should be applauded. However, for a company that was established in 1990, a closer look at the product lifecycle could have diminished the environmental footprint its main product marks daily.
We recognize the environmental impact of the K−Cup® pack is an important issue for both Keurig and the consumer, which is why we have created the recovery program, Grounds to Grow On™
The Grounds to Grow On initiative allows other companies/offices to 
order (yes, you have to PAY to recycle the K-cups) a recovery bin. These bins are recommended for offices that brew 24 K-Cups daily. Shipping to and from are covered in the price, but at $49 per recovery bin (at the time of this writing), this is a substantial expense for business owners seeking to reduce the footprint of the single-serve convenience.
order (yes, you have to PAY to recycle the K-cups) a recovery bin. These bins are recommended for offices that brew 24 K-Cups daily. Shipping to and from are covered in the price, but at $49 per recovery bin (at the time of this writing), this is a substantial expense for business owners seeking to reduce the footprint of the single-serve convenience.Tips as a K-cup consumer
- Purchase a compatible reusable
single-cup. These reusable cups provide the added benefit to brew other brands and flavors of coffee. This is specially important for those of us that enjoy grinding our own coffee beans. - Recycle the Keurig K-cups by peeling off the cover after each use, dumping (or repurpose by using as fertilizer) the coffee grounds, and placing the plastic k-cup in the recycling bin.
Tips as a business owner
As a small business owner, I too wrestle with efficient and cost effective ways to disposition any product offering. I find it beneficial 
for the environment AND a great business practice to develop a business plan that clearly identifies the product and service’s cradle to grave lifecycle. The lifecycle review can take a detailed look at eliminating waste, sourcing better processes and/or materials.
for the environment AND a great business practice to develop a business plan that clearly identifies the product and service’s cradle to grave lifecycle. The lifecycle review can take a detailed look at eliminating waste, sourcing better processes and/or materials.I understand that as a Property Management professional I am biased, but sharing best practices, tips and procedures will help other entrepreneurs and consumers make smarter decisions.
What do you think? Do you have any suggestion, comments or concerns? I’d love to hear about it. Please comment below or send me a message at any of the social media links listed below.Thanks!