The bag

Coffee packaging isn’t just about keeping beans fresh—it’s fundamentally about ensuring we keep our environmental footprint as light as possible. With the world increasingly facing resource scarcity and the growing effects of climate change, we believe it is absolutely vital to avoid unnecessarily using finite resources or selecting packaging materials that come with high emissions profiles. However, trying to achieve this balance is a significant challenge. Many manufacturers require minimum order quantities (MOQ) that far exceed our modest budget, making it difficult for smaller roasters like us to access truly sustainable packaging solutions. While we are certain there are better, more eco-friendly products available, these options tend to be geared toward larger, wealthier producers with greater purchasing power.

We have finally found a supplier of bags that will adequately meet our smaller supply needs, which is a positive development. However, although they offer a recyclable option classified as Code 4, these bags are made from soft plastic. In Cornwall, this type of plastic can only be recycled at specific drop-off points, which are somewhat limited in availability. Where exactly are these drop-off points? Many of them are located within supermarkets. This raises an important question: have we not already witnessed the decline of small food and drink producers as a result of supermarkets dominating the market by offering ‘easier on the pocket’ deals to customers? Given this context, are we therefore making the right decision in switching to a Code 4 bag that may, in effect, be promoting the very supermarkets contributing to the challenges faced by smaller high street businesses and producers.