Recyclable coffee packaging meets the needs of environmentally-conscious consumers who want to ensure that their beverage choices match their priorities. Products such as these are sometimes compostable, so they help to protect the environment in several ways. This article will explain why it is important to switch to recyclable coffee packaging.
What makes coffee packaging recyclable?
Recyclable coffee packaging reduces waste by allowing valuable materials to be recovered. When you switch to recyclable coffee packaging, you decrease greenhouse emissions and use less energy. These products are made of materials that can be used again for the same purpose or for another product.
When your company uses this category of products, you’ll become more attractive to consumers who make buying choices based on sustainability. You’ll also become more competitive. Every year, more and more specialty coffee roasters are incorporating recyclable packaging into their products. All of them are making sure that their lines are current with green trends and you will benefit if you do the same.
If you’re a roaster who doesn’t seem to share the same values as your eco-friendly customers, they may switch to a specialty coffee company that does. Many of these consumers spend a lot of time researching every aspect of the coffee that they purchase. They try to learn more about the farmers who grow their coffee and may take the time to find out whether the ink used for printing text and images on each packet is safe.
Recyclability in Australia - RedCycle
In Australia, the best option at the moment to recycle coffee packaging is through RedCycle.
REDcycle is a Melbourne-based organisation focused on the way to recover post-consumer soft plastics and prevent waste. Our bags are fully recyclable through closed-loop recycling services from Coles and Woolworths, allowing them to remain out of landfills.
What does recyclable mean to consumers?
The people who purchase your specialty coffee understand that recyclable packaging can be used again, whether it’s for packaging or in another form. The idea of converting waste into reusable materials rose in importance during the 1970s when energy costs started to increase. During this time, the issue of waste disposal became a concern globally, leading to international discussions about recycling.
Consumers concerned about selecting coffee in recyclable packaging associate the term with values such as reduced waste, better use of energy, and protecting the earth. For them, recyclable is not just about saving space in landfills, it’s a term that describes the strategic use of resources so that future generations can enjoy the earth in its fullness.
Use of the Mobius Loop
When a coffee company uses recyclable packaging, it indicates that they are adhering to global standards in terms of efficient production. A universal recycling symbol which is known as a Mobius Loop is used on recyclable coffee packaging. This is a triangle made of three arrows looping back on themselves clockwise. This symbol sometimes has a percentage located in the middle and that tells consumers how much of the item has been made using recycled substances.
Certifications often help to indicate to consumers that your coffee product is recyclable. The Mobius Loop is used in the coffee production sector to indicate that the packaging of coffee is recyclable. Your customers will also look for another symbol on their coffee. This symbol is known as the Green Dot and it shows that your coffee company has made a financial contribution towards efforts to utilize recycling.
All the recyclable coffee packaging produced for your company can have either or both of these symbols in a position where consumers can easily identify them. You communicate a lot to shoppers with this type of packaging. Just by looking at your packaging online or in their local coffee shop, a coffee drinker can understand what your company stands for. They will decide to buy your coffee, instead of the blends produced by a company that does not support recycling.
Can plastic coffee packaging be recycled?
Some plastics can be recycled at local facilities, while others can’t. In order to determine whether your plastic coffee packaging can be recycled, you will need to look at the Resin Identification Codes. These numbers are located in the middle of the recycling symbol and they range from one to seven. Packaging that has low numbers is easier to recycle than plastic coffee packaging with higher numbers.
At The Bag Broker, we offer coffee packaging made from LDPE – low-density polyethylene , which is easy to recycle and can be dropped off at most recycling facilities. Our products help specialty coffee roasters to reduce their carbon footprint, while ensuring that customers always receive their delicious coffee in the freshest condition possible.
Disposing of Recyclable Coffee Packaging
Recyclable coffee packaging should always be disposed of correctly, in the appropriate waste bin at home or in communal recycling areas at supermarkets and other locations. Consumers should always check the waste disposal guidelines for their country before disposing of coffee packaging.
Before disposing of packaging, ensure that it is clean and all contaminants have been removed. If it contains contaminants such as food, it cannot be recycled, making its recyclable properties redundant. Residual chaff and small broken beans should always be removed by consumers.
Why you should switch to Recyclable Coffee Packaging
Switching to recyclable coffee packaging will not reduce global environmental damage overnight but it is a move in the right direction. When you switch to the type of recyclable packaging that we have at The Bag Broker, you reduce your negative impact on the environment. Our LDPE, PLA and other packaging helps you to ensure that less waste ends up in local landfills.
When you use our packaging, it demonstrates that you are making an effort to be more sustainable. You can even include QR codes on the package of your specialty coffee, which purchasers can scan with their phones to learn about your company’s effort to protect the environment.
We have 100% recyclable LDPE coffee packaging made of two layers of LDPE and a barrier layer. It is attractive, lighter than the classic packaging and fully customizable. It’s also easier for any individual to dispose of sustainably, so contact our team today about switching to our recyclable products.