topic Re: 'I wish I'd never done it': Man who invented plastic Keurig coffee pods admits he regrets ever creating them - because t in Community Chat

'I wish I'd never done it': Man who invented plastic Keurig coffee pods admits he regrets ever creating them - because t

YorkieonmyPillow — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 16:00:15 GMT

The man who invented the coffee pods used by millions of Americans in their Keurig instant brewing machines has admitted he regrets ever coming up with the design.

In an interview with The Atlantic, John Sylvan, who came up with the idea for the coffee pods and the machine in the early 1990s, revealed that he 'feels bad' about the negative impact that the pods are having on the environment.

Sylvan, who no longer uses the plastic pods himself, also confessed he wishes he had never created them in the first place.

'I feel bad sometimes that I ever did it,' said Mr Sylvan, who sold his share of the company in 1997 for $50,000.

Keurig is currently thought to be one of the most popular at-home brewing systems in America. Last year the company sold 9.8 billion Keurig-brewed portion packs and earned $4.7billion.

The design is simple - a small plastic capsule containing ground beans that can be put into a machine to produce a cup of coffee at the touch of a button.

However despite the multi-billion pound success of the company nothing has been done to try and make the packaging of the popular Keurig pods recyclable.

And Mr Sylvan insists this will never happen.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2978220/Man-invented-plastic-Keurig-coffee-pods-admits-regrets-creating-never-recyclable.html

Re: 'I wish I'd never done it': Man who invented plastic Keurig coffee pods admits he regrets ever creating them - because t

Marianne1 — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 16:02:29 GMT

I wonder if he would still regret inventing them if he got more money from his invention?

Sorry, cynical Marianne is in the house.

Re: 'I wish I'd never done it': Man who invented plastic Keurig coffee pods admits he regrets ever creating them - because t

reese2 — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 16:04:14 GMT

That was also my first thought, Marianne!

Re: 'I wish I'd never done it': Man who invented plastic Keurig coffee pods admits he regrets ever creating them - because t

WenGirl42 — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 16:05:23 GMT

On 3/4/2015 Complicated said:
I wonder if he would still regret inventing them if he got more money from his invention?

Sorry, cynical Marianne is in the house.

I thought the same thing...

I also question the claim that "nothing has been done to try and make the packaging of the popular Keurig pods recyclable." I know there are brands of the pods that are recyclable...and if it's the Keurig brand pods specifically that he's talking about, well, at least there are now options for people to whom that matters. There really weren't at first, so strides have definitely been made.

Re: 'I wish I'd never done it': Man who invented plastic Keurig coffee pods admits he regrets ever creating them - because t

circles — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 16:06:50 GMT

That was my thought too..Marianne....

Re: 'I wish I'd never done it': Man who invented plastic Keurig coffee pods admits he regrets ever creating them - because t

terrier3 — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 16:16:35 GMT

I think he's more sorry he only got $50,000.

I use Trader Joe's pods - they are recyclable.

Re: 'I wish I'd never done it': Man who invented plastic Keurig coffee pods admits he regrets ever creating them - because t

Margo Channing — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 18:14:46 GMT

I bought my husband a $3. plastic filter to use on his Keurig and he makes regular coffee without the pods.

I can't help but think if his invention made him a millionaire he would have a different opinion!

Re: 'I wish I'd never done it': Man who invented plastic Keurig coffee pods admits he regrets ever creating them - because t

Free2be — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 18:21:14 GMT

On 3/4/2015 terrier3 said:
I think he's more sorry he only got $50,000.

I use Trader Joe's pods - they are recyclable.

My thought, as well. There are many plastics that go to landfills, these are a drop in the bucket in comparison.

Re: 'I wish I'd never done it': Man who invented plastic Keurig coffee pods admits he regrets ever creating them - because t

Topaz Gem — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 18:22:29 GMT

The inventor is probably getting a lot of flack from the environmentalists, so he issued this statement to appease them. I predict that eventually all the pods will be recyclable, end of problem.

Re: 'I wish I'd never done it': Man who invented plastic Keurig coffee pods admits he regrets ever creating them - because t

Lotus — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 18:26:30 GMT

I won't use them for that reason. I try to do my part.

Why can't they sell the flavored coffee in little bags or something to transfer to the ""refill pods""?

Re: 'I wish I'd never done it': Man who invented plastic Keurig coffee pods admits he regrets ever creating them - because t

Free2be — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 18:44:50 GMT

I've moved on to cold brew coffee. No pods, no filters and a smooth, lower acid, delicious coffee. We still use the recyclable pods in the Keurig if the next cold brew batch is in process.

Re: 'I wish I'd never done it': Man who invented plastic Keurig coffee pods admits he regrets ever creating them - because t

Burnsite — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 18:56:14 GMT

I like a very strong cuppa joe in the morning and therefore use an ancient Farberware percolator.

It makes by far the best coffee (in terms of what I like). Next best for me is that French contraption (press?) where you push down a coil and it rises. For a while I used one advertised as unbreakable by TravelSmith--I used it for travel but broke it at home while washing it.

I also used to enjoy coffee made in Chemex carafes, but I kept breaking them. They are still available. So far, I haven't been able to break my percolator, another reason I regard it fondly.

Two of my brothers have the Keurigs and I just don't get the appeal. A minute, true, and you have your bevvie; but it only takes 4 minutes in my electric Farberware pot.

PS: I forgot to address the original post. Making a product people use daily that is not recyclable is really regrettable, although I gather that now one can buy a permanent cup and just fill it daily. I think he is right to regret the swelling landfills, and plastic never deteriorates. The ancient cultures left priceless pottery chards; we will leave mountains of plastic.

Re: 'I wish I'd never done it': Man who invented plastic Keurig coffee pods admits he regrets ever creating them - because t

chickenbutt — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 18:59:54 GMT

I don't use these products, so I know little to nothing about them. But I AM surprised that they aren't recyclable or biodegradable. Wow, when WILL people ever learn?

I don't have any hostility toward this man because I have no idea if he's just bitter or has enlightened himself and now feels badly for inventing something that turned out to be a bad idea. Everything isn't always about money for everybody.

Re: 'I wish I'd never done it': Man who invented plastic Keurig coffee pods admits he regrets ever creating them - because t

Free2be — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 19:06:26 GMT

We sometimes use fresh ground beans for the Keurig but what a mess! Those grounds tend to fly hither and thither when scooping from the grinder container into the My K-Cup holders.

Re: 'I wish I'd never done it': Man who invented plastic Keurig coffee pods admits he regrets ever creating them - because t

Luv2Decorate — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 19:19:11 GMT

On 3/4/2015 Lotus~ said:
I won't use them for that reason. I try to do my part.

Why can't they sell the flavored coffee in little bags or something to transfer to the ""refill pods""?

They do! Go to Amazon and type in flavored ground coffee.

Re: 'I wish I'd never done it': Man who invented plastic Keurig coffee pods admits he regrets ever creating them - because t

LucyGoose — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 20:01:34 GMT

I've never used those. I've always just made a pot of Folgers coffee.

Re: 'I wish I'd never done it': Man who invented plastic Keurig coffee pods admits he regrets ever creating them - because t

Sylanne — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 20:15:12 GMT

I was never interested to own a Keurig, my 12 yr. Mr.Coffee, is still going strong.

Re: 'I wish I'd never done it': Man who invented plastic Keurig coffee pods admits he regrets ever creating them - because t

Ruppert — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 20:21:54 GMT

Maybe there is a + side. 1-People who use the my k-cup. 2-People who buy recyclable pods. and 3-People who brew at home instead of stopping for coffee on the road. They use reusable containers and don't have cups from drive thrus to toss out.

Re: 'I wish I'd never done it': Man who invented plastic Keurig coffee pods admits he regrets ever creating them - because t

Marianne1 — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 20:27:25 GMT

Kcups make me waste less too.

Water, coffee. I make what I drink.

Re: 'I wish I'd never done it': Man who invented plastic Keurig coffee pods admits he regrets ever creating them - because t

Cakers1 — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 20:37:46 GMT

60 BILLLION K-cups in our landfills and counting.

Again, 60 BILLION.

You don't have to brew a ton of coffee - you can simply brew enough for 1 or 2 cups - ours does.

Foolish point that Keurig saves anything. In fact, since they won't be 100% recycled until 2020, we still have another 5 years to go with consume and toss mentality.