FAQ Coffee Packaging Coffee Makers
What material is the new bag made of?
The new coffee bag is made of 100% LDPE (low density polyethylene) and is therefore a mono-plastic.
How do I dispose of the coffee bag correctly?
Mono-plastic is completely recyclable with proper disposal. Therefore, the goal must be that the bag does not end up in the incinerator, but is recycled instead. This reduces CO₂ emissions and uses resources efficiently.
In Germany, the bag can be easily disposed of in the yellow bag.
In Switzerland, there are private companies at the municipal and cantonal level that organize collection (in bags or at collection points). Find out how the situation is at your place of residence.
Note: In Switzerland, work is being done on a nationwide collection and recycling system called "Collection 2025". Currently, there is no uniform system here yet.
How do I dispose of the coffee bag if I don't have plastic collection?
If the bag ends up in household waste, it is not automatically incinerated. As a rule, separation takes place here as well, but it is not quite as efficient.
The old packaging consisted of paper among other things. Isn't it therefore more sustainable than if it only consisted of plastic?
Well, sort of. The old coffee bag was made of what is known as a composite material. This means that a layer of plastic was applied to the inside of the paper and bonded to it. This created a heterogeneous material consisting of two different materials. The major problem with these composite materials is that they generally cannot be returned to the recycling cycle. This problem also exists when recycling other composite materials, regardless of which material combination they are made of.
Thus, a mono-plastic bag is theoretically more sustainable. However, the calculation only works if we assume a high recycling rate. If the bag goes directly to incineration, a bag made of a paper-plastic mixture is better for the environment.
You can find more details on this topic in our blog post: Our new, "sustainable" packaging.
The label is made of paper. So the packaging is no longer made of mono-plastic?
Well, sort of. The paper label is glued on and, unlike in a composite material, is not firmly bonded to the plastic. During the recycling process, it comes off and is separated from the plastic as slag. The bag without label can thus be completely recycled. This approach is not perfect, but for us it is the most practical and sensible solution for our internal processes after weighing the alternatives.
Is this the best and most sustainable coffee packaging?
No. But we continue to consider many ways in which we can improve our packaging in the future and reduce its retention.
