Our packaging
The choices we make around packaging our coffee have a huge impact on the overall footprint on our planet, and determine how we can promote a more earth-friendly path for our customers.
After a few years growing our coffee brand, we decided to pursue custom printed packaging for our coffee bags to elevate our vision to promote gender equity through coffee. We also wanted to try and get our unit costs downs, and simplify our fulfillment process. When it comes to coffee packaging, from an environmental standpoint, there are no great solutions. So, we dug into research to see what fits best for our coffee, our business model, and our ethics.
Material
With sustainability for our planet and its people, we want to be intentional with what we create in our world and how our customers use it. Understanding material options is key to offering a responsible solution to deliver our coffee. We analyzed upstream impacts to make our packaging, how we, and our customers use it, and then where it goes once its primary use is complete. To learn in more detail the research and factors we considered, read our blog post on this subject here.
Upstream & downstream impact
For our key product, we landed on a pouch design that is made from #4 LDPE plastic. The pouch is more resource efficient in manufacturing, creating less waste than the popular flat-bottom coffee bags, but still stands nicely on a shelf and is resealable for customers who do not transport their beans to a proper storage container.
Our larger volume bags, that hold 2lbs, use a different manufacturing process that is even more efficient when being produced. These are not meant to sit on a product shelf, but are shipped directly to our customers. They are also resealable.
Our solution, for now
Where we landed was not necessarily where we thought we would. After debating on sizing, we settled on a 12 oz. bag and a 2 lb. bag for a single-use packaging offering. The 12 oz. bag offers customers a chance to try our coffee without buying too much, and also serves the more casual coffee consumer. The 2 lb. bag is a more efficient use of material and shipping and serves consumers who drink more coffee on the regular.
Zero-Waste Coffee Club
For a truly waste-free option to get high-quality coffee to your door, check out our Zero-Waste Coffee Club program. This is on subscription only, and is limited for how many people can join (at the moment!). This option delivers coffee using our unique circular packaging system, reusing all the elements of the package so we avoid anything going to landfill.
Swelter Coffee Bag recycling program
In efforts to help our packaging be recycled, we'll take your packaging back! We recycle all coffee bags with the trusted and credible organization TerraCycle. Simply send us your used bags using our Swelter bags recycling kit. Each kit can fit up to 5 bags for return.
