Coffee bags are an essential part of roasting, helping to preserve the quality of each roasted bean. In order to do this, they need to block moisture and oxygen.
A common solution to this problem is a combination of plastic and metal foils. While these are effective barriers, they're not recyclable or compostable.
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Paper
Coffee bags are generally made from paper. Often, they’re lined with an impermeable barrier to keep moisture, UV rays and oxygen out of the bag.
The most common materials used in Coffee Compostable Packaging are kraft paper and rice paper. Both of these are recyclable and have good environmental credentials.
In some cases, they’re lined with a bioplastic lining to make them fully compostable. This is a great option for coffee companies, as it’s easy to recycle and doesn’t have any negative impact on the environment.
These kraft coffee pouches are made for roasted beans, which require durable high-performance packaging that blocks out moisture, UV rays and oxygen in order to preserve their flavor and aroma. These bags also come with a one-way degassing valve to let out excess CO2 after they’ve been roasted.
These unbleached kraft paper bags are lined with compostable PLA plant-based bioplastics for the ultimate in sustainable packaging. They’re ideal for coffee companies, bakeries and more.
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Kraft
Kraft paper is one of the most popular materials for coffee packaging. It has many advantages over plastic bags, and is considered to be the best option for sustainable coffee bag packaging.
Despite its popularity, many people do not know that Kraft paper is actually compostable. It’s an environmentally friendly option that can be used to package a variety of food items and beverages.
For coffee, unbleached kraft is a great choice for roasters who want to stand out from their competitors and showcase their commitment to a sustainable future. It is also easy to recycle, and its strength and flexibility make it an ideal solution for packaging roasted coffee.
Compostable kraft bags are a natural-look alternative to petroleum-based plastics, and feature a one-way degassing valve that allows carbon dioxide to be released during the composting process. They’re ideal for freshly roasted coffee beans, and can hold up to 250 g of a single sized coffee bean, depending on the density.
Plastic
Most coffee bags are made with a multi-layer structure of foil, plastic and paper. This is called composite packaging and is one of the most unsustainable forms of packaging in use today.
However, it is possible to recycle most of these Compost Bag, according to TerraCycle. In some cases, it’s even possible to compost them in your home.
Some bags are lined with a bioplastic material, such as polylactic acid (PLA). This type of bioplastic is derived from carbohydrates such as corn starch and sugarcane.
This bioplastic is 65% less energy-consuming and generates 68% fewer greenhouse gases than traditional petroleum-based plastics. It’s a good option for coffee shops who want to reduce their carbon footprint.
These bags are designed to keep the coffee fresh by blocking out moisture, oxygen and UV rays. They also come with a degassing valve to allow CO2 produced during the roasting process to escape.
Recycled
Many coffee companies are working to make their packaging more environmentally friendly. They also offer recycling programs for their products and bags.
If your bag is made from untreated kraft paper, it can be composted or recycled into new products. However, this requires the bag to be completely clean and free of residual crumbs or oil from the coffee beans before it is disposed of in a recycling bin.
A few roasters are using coffee biodegradable bags or compostable bags made of plastics from renewable resources like cornstarch and sugarcane. These are made through a fermentation process and can be very strong and durable.
Most coffee bags are made of foil, paper and plastic on multiple layers, referred to as composite packaging. They are not easily recyclable with a curbside recycling program because the materials cannot be separated.
Some roasters are starting to use 100 percent biodegradable coffee bags, but this still isn’t a widely available option yet. Until then, it is best to dispose of your old coffee bag and use a more sustainable coffee container.