Within the newest of a number of instances alleging Keurig made false or deceptive claims in regards to the recyclability of its plastic espresso pods, Keurig Canada has agreed to a CA$1.85 million (US$1.3 million) class-action settlement.

The nationwide class motion alleges Keurig marketed the pods as recyclable though, in lots of municipalities, the pods weren’t accepted in native recycling methods.

The deal is pending court docket approval however would compensate individuals who purchased Keurig pods or brewers in Canada way back to 2016, in accordance with court docket data and the settlement web site.

The case covers “all individuals in Canada who bought Keurig Ok-Cup Pods and/or Keurig espresso machines or brewing methods bought in Canada from June 8, 2016, to current,” with potential payouts of as much as CA$7 per declare for individuals with out proof of buy and as much as CA$50 per declare at a fee of CA$0.50 per 10 pods. Class members may additionally obtain as much as CA$25 per declare for brewer purchases if the settlement is accepted.

Keurig denies any wrongdoing, and the settlement discover emphasizes that it’s a compromise of disputed claims and doesn’t embrace an admission of legal responsibility by the corporate.

A Historical past of Related Allegations

Below a 2022 take care of the Canadian Competitors Bureau, Keurig Canada agreed to pay a CA$3 million penalty, donate to an environmental charity and alter its packaging and promoting to make clear that the pods are recyclable solely in choose places.

In March of 2022, Keurig within the U.S. agreed to a US$10 million class-action settlement relating to claims made about pod recyclability.

In 2024, the U.S. Securities and Trade Fee (SEC) charged Keurig Dr Pepper with making inaccurate statements relating to the recyclability of its single-use plastic Ok-Cups. To settle the costs, the corporate agreed to pay a US$1.5 million civil penalty with out admitting or denying the SEC’s findings.

The SEC discovered that Keurig informed buyers that testing “validated” that pods might be successfully recycled, whereas omitting that two massive U.S. recycling corporations had raised severe considerations and didn’t intend to just accept the pods.

The proposed settlement comes as Keurig Dr Pepper pursues a separate deal to purchase international espresso conglomerate JDE Peet’s, valued at about US$18 billion. Below that settlement, KDP plans to mix its espresso enterprise with JDE Peet’s and later spin the mixed “World Espresso Co.” right into a standalone pure-play espresso firm with a portfolio spanning greater than 100 international locations.

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