Reusable K-Cup Program
Delicious coffee without the waste
All ASU departments can now participate in the Reusable K-Cup® Program. This follows a successful 2024 pilot in the University Services Building with over 300 employees on the Tempe campus.
View the Reusable K-Cup Checklist to learn more about implementing the program in your work area. Submit a Reusable K-Cup Program interest form to get started.
The first 10 departments that sign up will receive up to $500 from the Sustainability Initiatives Revolving Fund to cover the costs of a coffee grinder, one month of Fair Trade coffee and one reusable K-Cup per employee.
SIRF grant application deadlines are Oct. 31, 2025, and Feb. 27, 2026.
What the program does
Saves money
- Purchase whole beans instead of K-Cup pods and save approximately $0.30 per cup. Small savings add up.
- Lowers recycling costs. In FY 2024, ASU spent nearly $6,000 to recycle 1,645 lb. of K-Cups — roughly 58,000 individual pods.
Encourages sustainability
- Reduces plastic waste. A typical office uses about 2,000 K-Cups annually, sending unnecessary plastic waste to landfills.
- Puts coffee grinds to work. Most units discard grinds when they throw away coffee pods. Reusable K-Cups let you compost coffee grinds, which helps the environment.
- Inspires staff to make other positive environmental changes that support ASU’s sustainability goals.
- Uses fair trade coffee to align with ASU’s Sustainable Purchasing Guidelines and Fair Trade Campus Commitment.
Email University Sustainability Practices with questions or for more information.