Toronto's Club Coffee has attained Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI; New York) certification for the P?rPod100, the world's first certified 100% compostable single-serve pod for coffee, tea and other hot beverages. BPI certification mandates that products be tested in approved independent laboratories and then be independently verified according to scientific standards ASTM D6400 and D6868s.

Certification by the BPI confirms that the P?rPod100 is "industrially compostable," which means that it fully breaks down in large-scale commercial composting processes. "Third-party certification is important because it validates that the P?rPod100 breaks down in large-scale composting," says John Pigott, Club Coffee CEO. "Equally important, this external certification tells consumers that they can buy the right solution to the mounting problem of waste and its impact on the environment associated with single-serve formats. It also offers a solution for municipal governments who see a growing number of single-serve pods flooding their landfills."

Responding to consumer concerns about waste, Club Coffee launched the P?rPod100 as an alternative that would still deliver a great taste experience, while helping to protect the environment. The P?rPod100 is compatible with most Keurig-style brewing systems, including the new Keurig 2.0 brewers. The company says the pod’s success was earned partly because of the its innovative use of plant-based resins and its use of the coffee "chaff," the coffee bean skin left over from the roasting process, in the pod's distinctive design.

"Club Coffee is the first manufacturer to earn BPI certification for single-serve pods," says Rhodes Yepsen, Executive Director, BPI. "Diverting products associated with food residuals away from disposal is complicated, and BPI certification is a critical piece of the process, ensuring that items will break down in a timely manner in the appropriate composting environment, and not have a negative impact on the quality of the finished compost."

The certification announcement is also being praised by composting leaders. "Too often, organic materials and food scraps that can be included in the composting process are disposed of in landfills and incinerators," said Al Rattie, Director of Market Development, U.S. Composting Council. "We support and encourage the production and appropriate use of certified, compostable materials to replace non-compostable products, which will help divert more food scraps to compost manufacturing facilities where they will become part of a valuable agricultural resource. Organic residual generators should always check with their local compost manufacturer to make sure that they are permitted to accept compostable plastics."

"We support progressive change in the packaging value chain," said James D. Downham, President and CEO, PAC Packaging Consortium. "As many companies are working to offer more sustainable solutions, the world's first certified, fully compostable single-serve pod is a significant milestone in sustainable packaging that should be celebrated."

Club Coffee continues to work with U.S. municipalities, composting manufacturers, well-known retailers and recognized food/coffee brands to provide consumers with access to both products using the P?rPod100™ technology as well as to composting channels. "We believe that compostable pods are the right choice for consumers to enjoy the quality and convenience of single-serve coffee and, at the same time, help protect our environment," said Brian Kubicki, Vice President of Marketing, Massimo Zanetti Beverage USA. "Americans will have access to the first certified 100% compostable pods through our Hills Bros, Chock full o'Nuts and Kauai Coffee brands in the coming months."

"Certification of 100% compostable pods cuts through confusing single-serve coffee product claims," says Club Coffee's Pigott. "Until now, consumers have had no options other than adding single-serve pods to their garbage. In today's market, some pods claim to be partially