Cost and sustainability in coffee packaging are becoming considerations for coffee roasters and brands. Coffee is more than a beverage. It is a ritual, a social brew and a global beverage. As the coffee industry grows, so has the packaging used to keep it fresh and tasteful. Coffee consumers are now more aware of the packaging materials being used. This puts pressure on coffee roasters and brands. How do they balance cost and sustainability in coffee packing? In this mega blog post, you will learn how coffee roasters meet their financial and sustainability goals with coffee packaging.
Why Coffee Packaging Matters?
Before we address how to balance cost with sustainability, let’s look at why coffee packaging is important. Coffee is sensitive to the environment. If not correctly packaged, the coffee loses its aroma, freshness and goes stale.
Traditional packaging materials have added significantly to the world’s landfills. These materials are excellent for protecting coffee. They protect coffee from oxygen, moisture, and light. Coffee roasters/brands need to deal with the rising expectations of consumers who want to see brands using sustainable packaging materials. Sustainable coffee packaging can help you reduce waste and save resources. It helps you make a positive impact on the world (i.e., satisfying customer demand). But can you do it and keep your costs from going through the roof?
Traditional Coffee Packaging
Traditional coffee packaging uses a combination of plastic and aluminum to give you the barrier properties you need. These packaging materials are fantastic at keeping moisture, oxygen, and light away from coffee.They’re also a significant problem because it’s challenging to recycle these materials.
Pros
- Strong barrier properties – Give your coffee excellent protection from moisture, light, and oxygen so it stays fresh longer.
- Cost-effective – Traditional laminates are available everywhere. They tend to be cheaper (because of infrastructure and versatility).
- Lightweight – Aluminum and plastic laminates are flexible (thin) and lightweight. This helps reduce shipping costs.
Cons
- Non-recyclable – Laminated plastics and aluminum are non-recyclable. They contain materials that are difficult to separate and recycle. Most laminates go to landfills or end up in the ocean because they are difficult to recycle. Waste is accumulated.
- Environmental impact – The production and disposal of these materials consume large amounts of energy. They contribute to both pollution and plastic waste over time.
- Short-term thinking – These may be less expensive to start with, but the negative aspects could harm your brand over time.
Choosing Right Material
Sustainable coffee packaging is a great way to reduce environmental impact. This type of packaging is made from sustainable materials. Sustainable means these materials are biodegradable, compostable, or recyclable. Sustainable coffee packaging may be more expensive initially. But over the long term, sustainable packaging can reduce some of these costs. Let’s look at some of these sustainable packaging materials and how they work.
Recyclable Packaging Materials
One of the ways you can reduce your cost and increase sustainability is to switch from using multi-layer laminates to mono-material packaging. Mono-material packaging consists of a single material like polyethylene (PE) instead of using plastic and aluminum. The use of these materials might be difficult to recycle because they may be considered multi-layer.
Recyclable packaging material reduces waste and energy when making new products because you’re not starting from scratch every time. For example, going from plastic-aluminum laminates to recyclable plastic laminates or paper laminates allows you to reduce costs on the waste side and the virgin material side. By doing this, you’re creating more of a circular economy where products get reused repeatedly instead of just ending up in landfills.
Benefits of recyclable materials
- Easier recycling process – Unlike traditional laminates that need to have these materials separated, mono-materials can be easily recycled, creating more of a circular economy.
- Lower operational costs – Mono-materials reduce the number of processes needed to manufacture packaging. It also uses less energy and money to create and operate.
- Reduced landfill waste – Because it’s easier to recycle, you help keep things out of the landfill.
- Build brand value – Eco-conscious consumers like to buy from brands they believe are recyclable.
Bio-degradable Packaging Materials
Compostable packaging is designed to dissolve into the environment within weeks or months. Plant-based bioplastics including wheat straw plastic, corn starch plastics, sugarcane bagasse, and kraft paper are examples of compostable material. Compostable packaging is expensive to produce. As the name implies, you’re not putting anything into the landfill or creating trash. It does give brands an opportunity to reduce their overall carbon footprint. For coffee brands, it will positively impact their customers. Cost benefits happen anytime you can eliminate anything to landfill.
For example, PLA (Polylactic Acid) is a plant-based material used in compostable coffee packaging. PLA has the strength to serve its purpose in the packaging to protect the coffee. It is more expensive than a standard plastic bag, but it is an excellent investment.
Benefits of bio-degradable materials
- Lower waste management costs – These costs exist because as things degrade naturally into the earth, you’re not paying a waste disposal company to take them away.
- Align with consumers’ belief systems – The demand for compostable packaging continues to grow. It is a unique selling proposition for your marketing.
Kraft Paper Packaging Materials
Paper-based packaging is a popular choice for eco-friendly brands. When made responsibly, paper is both renewable and recyclable. To protect products like coffee, barrier properties can be improved with PLA coatings or liners. Using kraft paper pouches helps coffee companies reduce their environmental impact and cut costs. Kraft paper with water-based inks and plant-based linings (like PLA coating) is commonly used for coffee packaging.
Benefits of kraft paper material
- Cost lower – Paper is the cheapest of the three that we’ve talked about, which is more cost-effective than bio-based and compostable plastics.
- Increase brand awareness – Growing consumer demand for sustainable packaging favors paper-based packaging.
Conclusion
Whether you’re using recyclable, compostable, bio-based, or paper-based packaging, the long-term savings make it worth the cost. Sustainable packaging reduces waste, uses less energy to produce, and creates a positive marketing, brand image, and perception. Sustainable packaging is the best strategy for coffee companies to balance costs with the environment.
Printing in Sustainable Ways
Sustainability is more than picking and using the right materials in your coffee packaging. For small coffee roasters, you can be sustainable in your branding and in the printing done on your coffee packaging. Traditional printing uses solvent-based inks and gives off VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds), which are highly polluting and energy-intensive to produce. Sustainable alternatives, such as digital printing, water-based inks, and sustainable labels, provide a cost-effective, eco-friendly solution for small coffee brands. Here’s how sustainable printing methods can balance cost and the environment:
Environmental Inks
Traditional printing processes often use solvent-based inks, which contain harmful VOCs that contribute to air pollution and require high energy to cure. Water-based inks, on the other hand, offer an eco-friendly alternative that is both safer for the environment and more cost-efficient in the long term.
Pros of environmental inks
- Non-toxic / VOC Free – Water-based inks don’t contain the harmful chemicals found in solvent-based inks.
- Biodegradable – These inks break down better than other inks and don’t cause harmful effects on the environment when disposed of properly.
- Cost-Effective – Water-based inks are slightly more expensive than solvent inks. However, they save money on waste disposal, and safety, and use less energy to produce.
In particular, small coffee roasters want to print a label or printed design on their kraft coffee bags.
Environmental Labels and Adhesive
Small coffee roasters can make their packaging more sustainable by using eco-friendly labels and adhesives. Traditional labels often contain plastic, chemicals, and non-biodegradable materials, so switching to greener options helps improve the overall environmental impact.
For example, a small roaster using compostable pouches or films can also choose compostable labels with plant-based adhesives. In short, for smaller specialty coffee roasters, balancing cost and sustainability in packaging goes beyond just choosing the right eco-friendly packaging—it’s also about using sustainable labels and adhesives.
Benefits
- Recyclable and Compostable – There are label options that are made from recyclable or compostable materials like paper labels with plant-based adhesives. All the components (paper, adhesive, inks) are biodegradable and compostable.
- Cost-Effective – Just like digitally printing pouches, labels can be printed in limited runs.
Sustainable printing focuses on long-term savings such as reduced waste, lower energy consumption, appealing to eco-conscious customers, and balancing cost and sustainability.
Digital Printing
Digital printing has become a popular, sustainable alternative to conventional printing for coffee packaging. It is a perfect match for small coffee roasters who design and sell their printed coffee packaging. Digital printing uses less ink producing less waste.
Benefits of digital printing
- Reduced Cost for Limited Runs – Unlike conventional printing with high setup costs for new designs, digital printing is inexpensive for short-run purposes.
- Less Waste – Since you are printing on-demand, digital printing causes less overrun/waste and aligns nicely with sustainability objectives.
- Customizability – Small roasters can offer customizable packaging solutions that are local or resonate with their target market without having to mass produce.
A small coffee roaster launching a new seasonal blend can use digital printing to print the limited-edition packaging without paying for bulk printing while maintaining their sustainable brand image.
Using Various Strategies
Refillable and Subscription Box Packaging
Another innovative way to balance cost and sustainability in coffee packaging is through refillable packaging schemes or subscription packaging using kraft paper. Refillable schemes allow customers to use reusable containers or pouches, reducing waste over time. Subscription packaging, like kraft paper pouches, eliminates extra costs while being eco-friendly.
Kraft Paper Subscription Boxes
A coffee roaster offering a monthly subscription could sell coffee in kraft paper pouches. Customers can use the pouches as is or pour the coffee into a refillable tin or container, cutting down on packaging waste.
Refillable Packaging
Coffee roasters could introduce a container refill program, where customers return or mail in their empty containers to be refilled. This reduces single-use packaging and encourages a more sustainable, circular approach to coffee consumption.
Benefits
- Reduced Packaging Waste – Offering refillable pouches or containers reduces the amount of single-use packaging required, which reduces material cost and waste.
- Lower Material Costs – If they’re refilling a container/pouch, they don’t need to purchase packaging for each coffee purchase. This reduces the material cost.
- Eco-Friendly Kraft Paper – Kraft paper subscription packaging ensures that your packaging is biodegradable, compostable, and recyclable.
- Loyalty and Cost – Subscription packages and refillable packaging programs increase brand loyalty to your company which will generate more revenue to offset money spent to generate packaging.
- Sustainable Image – Promoting refillable packaging along with subscription model packaging allows you to become a sustainable hero in the eyes of your customers.
By selling coffee in refillable containers along with coffee being a subscription package using kraft paper, you can reduce material costs as a small coffee roaster. Refillable packaging schemes, along with subscription model packages, will help you reduce the amount of packaging you have to make and create a brand-loyal customer base who cares about the environment. Utilizing refillable packaging and subscription packaging is a great way to balance sustainability and cost.
Bulk Purchasing
One way to balance cost and sustainability in coffee packaging is by buying sustainable materials in bulk. Purchasing materials like kraft paper in larger quantities helps lower overall costs, making it more affordable to create eco-friendly packaging. Bulk buying also strengthens relationships with suppliers, leading to better prices, consistent supply, and the possibility of customized packaging for your brand.
However, this approach doesn’t work for all biodegradable materials, as some can begin to decay over time, which makes long-term storage a challenge.
Pros
- Lower Cost Per Unit – Buying sustainable materials such as kraft paper or mono-materials in bulk helps you lower the cost per unit of your coffee packaging due to the power of purchasing in volume.
- Vendor Loyalty and Better Terms – Buying sustainable materials in bulk will help you create long-term relationships with your vendors, ensuring that you get better prices and favorable terms as your company grows.
- Sustainability in Bulk– Buying recyclable or renewable materials in bulk can help integrate sustainability into your supply chain.
Cons
- Limited Shelf Life – Unlike kraft paper or mono-materials, biodegradable materials (such as plant-based plastics) begin to break down over time.
- Not Ideal for Long-Term Storage – These materials cannot be stored in bulk for extended periods because they decay and may be unusable by the time you need them.
- Risk of Wastage – Bulk-buying biodegradable materials can lead to unnecessary waste if the materials break down before being used.
- Storage Challenges – Storing biodegradable materials requires careful attention to prevent deterioration, adding complexity to inventory management.
Sourcing Reliable Suppliers
A bad sustainable packaging supplier be like
You would be told that they have sustainable credentials when they don’t. A bad sustainable packaging supplier may also:
- Give you materials that don’t perform appropriately for your packaging.
- Greenwash instead of having third-party certifications or verified sustainability claims.
- Utilize waste in their production methodologies.
A bad sustainable packaging supplier will make your coffee roasting business look bad.
A Good sustainable packaging supplier be like
A reliable sustainable packaging supplier does more than provide you with sustainable materials. Our sustainable packaging suppliers are curated based on the following attributes:
- They use recyclable, biodegradable, and renewable materials.
- They follow international standards for sustainability.
When you choose Pursue Packaging as your sustainable packaging supplier, you become a partner with a company that embraces your values. We help you achieve your goals without sacrificing the quality or performance of your coffee packaging.
Conclusion
In a world where consumers are concerned about the environment, balancing the cost of sustainable coffee packaging with the sustainability of those items is no longer a nice-to-have; it’s a must. It’s critical for you to look at sustainable coffee packaging as an investment, not an expense, in your brand’s growth, cost of goods sold, and impact on the environment.
