Plastic Coffee Pods (K-Cups)
Single-serve plastic pods brewed with near-boiling water.
49Moderate burden · out of 100
Cleaner swapA reusable stainless-steel pod, or a French press or moka pot
How this score is built
- 100Start
- 81.6Chemical hazard 4 × 4.6−18.4
- 64.6Everyday exposure 5 × 3.4−17
- 49Persistence 6 × 2.6−15.6
- ModerateThe band49 sits in 40–59.
What each input rests on
| Input | Rating | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Chemical hazard | 4/10 | unsourced input |
| Everyday exposure | 5/10 |
|
| Persistence | 6/10 | unsourced input |
Ratings are editorial. A study listed here supports the rating; it did not compute it. How the index is built
What this means for you
Forcing hot water through a thin plastic pod can release microplastics and, from some plastics, trace additives. A steel filter avoids the disposable plastic entirely.
Evidence strength: moderate
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