The Truth About Your Coffee Packaging: Making Sustainable Choices

At Artisti Coffee Roasters, we've always been committed to delivering exceptional coffee. But our journey, spanning over a decade, has been about much more than just the beans. It's a continuous evolution, focused on sustainability and minimizing our environmental footprint, particularly when it comes to coffee packaging. You might remember our early days with black, red, and white branding – we've come a long way since then, and every step has been taken with the planet in mind.

We recently sat down with Zac from Eco Barista, a pioneer in sustainable coffee packaging, to demystify the world of eco-friendly coffee cups and bags. Prepare to bust some myths and discover how your daily brew can contribute to a healthier planet.

Jump straight into our video.

Eco Barista: A Decade of Sustainable Packaging Innovation

Founded in 2013, Eco Barista emerged from a clear need in the specialty coffee market. Roasters were booming, but packaging options were generic and lacked a focus on sustainability. "Our mission," Zac explains, "has been to partner with roasters and help them become as sustainable as they can be with their packaging choices, without compromising on quality, coffee freshness, branding, or design."

Their core offerings began with providing smaller, precisely sized cups to enhance the coffee profile, but quickly expanded to address the significant issues with traditional coffee bags.

The Coffee Bag Dilemma: A Myth-Busting Revelation

Remember those seemingly eco-friendly brown kraft coffee bags that were everywhere a decade ago? It turns out, they were "the worst bag for the environment," according to Zac. Why? Because these bags often contain up to five different materials – including aluminum, plastic, and hard plastic valves – making them virtually impossible to recycle economically. Imagine trying to recycle a 50-cent bag when it costs $10!

The Rise of Truly Recyclable Coffee Bags

The good news is that innovation has led to far better alternatives. Eco Barista is at the forefront, offering options like:

Pure Paper Kraft Bags with Micro Plastic Layer: This exciting product contains a minimal amount of plastic, allowing it to be recycled through normal paper waste streams. It's a fantastic option for roasters selling directly to local customers.
Soft Plastic Bags with Removable Valves: Designed for recyclability, these bags ensure coffee freshness and offer excellent printing capabilities.
Mono-Structure Soft Plastic Bags (Mono-Material): Taking sustainability a step further, these bags use a single type of plastic, simplifying the recycling process and increasing their value in the recycling chain.
Post-Consumer Recycled (PCR) Content Bags: This is a game-changer! Roasters can now choose bags made with recycled plastics, actively contributing to a circular economy and reducing reliance on virgin materials.
Certified Home Compostable Bags: For those committed to a full circular approach, these bags offer an incredible oxygen barrier, ensuring freshness while breaking down in a home compost environment.

When buying beans, a key indicator of a less sustainable bag is a very long expiry date, which often points to an over-engineered, foil-lined product designed for extended shelf life rather than environmental responsibility.

Coffee Cups: From Plastic-Lined to Compostable Champions

The single-use coffee cup has long been a poster child for environmental concern. Ten years ago, the norm was a plastic-lined paper cup with a plastic lid – a combination that offered little in the way of sustainability.

Today, the landscape is shifting dramatically towards compostable solutions. When choosing a cup, here's what to look for:

Single Wall, Certified Compostable Cups: Avoid double-wall cups, which use extra material. Always ensure your supplier's "compostable" claims are backed by Australian Standard certifications.
Compostable Lids: While they may come with a slightly higher price tag, compostable lids significantly enhance the sustainability of your coffee cup. The long-term environmental benefits and positive brand image far outweigh the small additional cost.

Government Action: Leading the Charge Towards a Greener Future

Some Australian states are already taking decisive action. Western Australia has banned polyethylene (PE) lined cups, mandating certified compostable options. They've even moved to home compostable lids, setting a precedent for other states. South Australia is following suit, demonstrating a top-down commitment to sustainable packaging.

This means that even if you're currently using less sustainable options, change is coming. Getting ahead of the curve by adopting eco-friendly packaging now will ensure your business is ready for future regulations and aligned with consumer expectations.

Optimizing Bag Design for Sustainability and Cost Savings

Beyond the material, the design of your coffee bag can also impact its environmental footprint.

Side Gusset Bags vs. Box Bottoms: For 1kg bags, side gusset bags use significantly less material than five-panel box bottom bags. This not only makes them more sustainable but can also lead to cost savings. Less material equals less environmental impact, whether the bag is recycled or composted.
Larger Format Bags (2kg, 3kg): For cafes or local deliveries, consider using larger bags. A 3kg bag uses substantially less material per kilo of coffee than three 1kg bags, offering both environmental and cost benefits. Eco Barista has even designed 3kg bags with cut lines for reuse, further extending their lifespan.

Addressing the Soft Plastics Recycling Challenge

The collapse of the RedCycle program highlighted the complexities of soft plastics recycling. The issue wasn't just collection, but the variety of mixed plastics and a lack of demand for the recycled material.

However, new solutions are emerging, such as Recycle Smart in Sydney. Crucially, the focus is now on designing for circularity – using mono-materials and incorporating post-consumer recycled (PCR) content directly into new packaging. This creates a circular economy where recycled plastics are actively used, putting the onus back on brands to be part of the solution.

Organisations like APCO (Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation) are also setting ambitious 2030 targets to standardize packaging and improve recycling infrastructure across Australia.

Your Sustainable Packaging Choices

So, what's the best option for your coffee business or for you as a consumer? Zac recommends three excellent choices, depending on your needs:

Home Certified Compostable Bags: Best for ultimate environmental benefit and for consumers with access to home composting.
Mono-Structured Plastic Bags with PCR (Post-Consumer Recycled) Content: A fantastic option for maintaining coffee freshness, transportation, and strength, especially when price is a consideration.
Pure Paper Kraft Bags: Ideal if coffee freshness for extended periods is less critical (e.g., direct-to-consumer local sales), as they are easily recyclable in paper streams.

Always remember: if you see a kraft bag, double-check that it's not secretly lined with multiple unrecyclable materials like foil.

Beyond Packaging: The Holistic Approach to Good Business

Sustainability extends beyond just cups and bags. It's about a holistic approach to business. As Zac emphasizes, it's about "being a good business" across all facets – quality control, ethical sourcing, fair manufacturing, and even employment practices. Certifications like B Corp provide a framework for businesses to benchmark and improve their environmental, social, and governance performance.

At Artisti Coffee Roasters, we're proud to partner with companies like Eco Barista, who are dedicated to pushing the boundaries of sustainable packaging. We believe that choosing the right packaging is a small price to pay for a big impact on our planet.

Ready to make a sustainable choice with your coffee? Explore Artisti Coffee Roasters' commitment to eco-friendly packaging and delicious beans. What are your thoughts on sustainable coffee packaging? Share your questions and comments below – Zac and the Eco Barista team are ready to provide insights!