Introducing our new packaging: now recyclable at supermarkets
We are committed to making coffee better.
Better for Growers
Better for Communities
Better for Planet
And Better for You.
In recent months we have taken significant steps to reduce operational waste and energy usage whilst ensuring our customers have access to easy recycling solutions.
Here’s a closer look at why we’ve chosen flexible plastic as our new bag material.
Why we made this decision
After many back-and-forths, discussions, bag samples, and a fair amount of late-night conversations, we decided to switch to flexible plastic. Why, we hear you say? It offers a much more sustainable alternative to our old Kraft packaging and other options like compostable packaging, don’t yet have suitable infrastructure in place for use.
So what are the advantages?
- Lower operational energy & waste
The new recyclable material is highly efficient to process, leading to decreased operational packaging waste and optimised energy utilisation.
- Recycling infrastructure
The UK is actively developing better systems to recycle flexible plastic, making it an increasingly sustainable option.
- Energy
The production plant where the majority of the production processes are completed is powered by 100% green energy.
How to recycle our new bags:
We know that curbside recycling for flexible plastics isn’t expected to be available until 2027, but there are ways for you to recycle our new bags easily at front-of-store collection points in major supermarkets.
Our new packaging is made from a PPPE mix. This makes it recyclable at front-of-store collection points in large supermarkets like Tesco, Sainsbury's, Coop, Morrisons, M&S, and Aldi. These supermarkets have set up collection points specifically for flexible plastics like ours.
To recycle your coffee bags:
Find your nearest location: Visit Recycle Now and search for "plastic bags and wrapping" in the search bar. Enter your postcode to find the closest collection point.
Take it to your local supermarket: Use the front-of-store recycling points for plastic bags and wrapping.
So why didn’t we go with a compostable material?
You might wonder why we didn’t choose compostable material. While compostable packaging is gaining attention, it comes with several challenges in the UK:
- Home Composting Limitations: Only a small percentage of households actively compost, and research shows that even certified 'home compostable' materials often fail to fully degrade in typical home-composting conditions.
- Limited Industrial Composting: Access to industrial composting facilities is still sparse, and many councils don't accept compostable materials in food waste collections.
- Contamination issues: Poor waste sorting systems lead to compostables contaminating recycling streams, resulting in entire batches being sent to landfills. Once there, they can take years to biodegrade and release harmful methane emissions in the process.
Given these limitations, flexible plastic currently provides a more realistic and environmentally friendly option, especially with the front-of-store recycling infrastructure already in place.
Recycle Responsibly for a Better Tomorrow
It’s our responsibility to provide you with clear, easy-to-follow recycling information. By recycling your flexible plastic at supermarket collection points, you're helping keep these materials out of landfills and are also contributing to a circular economy.
Thank you for choosing to recycle and helping us protect our planet. Together, we can make a difference!
