The importance of investing in aseptic bag-in-box packaging for cold brew
Aseptic bag-in-box packaging is a hygienic, environmentally friendly, multi-serve packaging format for cold brew designed to make transportation and packing more efficient, coffee quality more reliable, and recycling straightforward.
When manufactured and packaged correctly, cold brew coffee holds several key advantages over traditional hot or cold coffee beverages, including flavour profile, shelf life, and sustainability.
As an increasing number of consumers seek out cold brew for their at-home coffee consumption, coffee businesses can capitalise by introducing new packaging formats that match sustainable lifestyle ambitions and stand out on the shelf.
Read on to learn more about how aseptic packaging works and why you should consider it for your brand.
What does ‘aseptic’ actually mean, and how does it improve cold brew packaging?
In food technology, aseptic processing and packaging boost product safety, quality, and shelf-life. Products and packaging are sterilised separately before being combined and packed under further sterile conditions, allowing foods and beverages to be stored ambiently without the need for refrigeration or preservatives.
The aseptic component of aseptic bag-in-box packaging refers to the internal plastic bag comprised of a robust multilayer polymer which can be manufactured from plant-based materials. The airtight bag keeps liquid products safe and fresh within, and the technology is used widely across the food and beverage industry, as well as for pharmaceuticals and industrial chemicals.
In the bag-in-box format, the aseptic bag is then housed within a protective corrugated cardboard outer box. This box offers protection during transportation and storage and can be recycled separately according to local regulations and procedures.
After the bag has been filled with cold brew – or another liquid like wine or fruit juice – it is sealed with a simple plastic screw cap or dispensing tap, which can also be recycled. These ergonomic plastic fittings also help ensure almost every drop of cold brew is dispensed, and waste is reduced.
In combination, the three elements of aseptic bag-in-box packaging help guarantee the safety and quality of cold brew over an extended period of time while also facilitating more comprehensive sustainability procedures relating to transport, waste, and recycling.
What are the commercial benefits of offering aseptic bag-in-box packaging for cold brew?
Cold brew is one of the fastest-growing segments within the coffee industry, forecasted to reach a value exceeding $3.7 billion by 2032. Growth is driven by younger consumers seeking convenient, high-quality, sustainable alternatives to traditional coffee options to match their active, environmentally friendly lifestyles.
As a coffee-focused business in 2024, establishing a line of cold brew coffee products is a sure way to future-proof your company, attract new customers, and open up new retail opportunities. Beyond serving beverages in-store, businesses looking to develop a retail cold brew line have several format options available.
For single-serve or ready-to-drink cold brew, aluminium cans dominate the marketplace. They appeal to consumers because they are familiar with aluminium. Cans are also convenient and widely recyclable, although studies show that consumers perceive compostable packaging to be more environmentally friendly.
Cold brew pouches in single-serve sizes (187 ml or 375 ml), however, are more sustainable and can be manufactured from plant-based materials for full compostability. Thanks to their flexible packaging format, transportation and logistics are also more efficient – the space required to transport one glass bottle of cold brew can house up to ten pouches.
For multi-serve needs, aseptic bag-in-box packaging is the superior choice in terms of sustainability, quality, and convenience. With sizes ranging from 1 litre to 20 litres, bag-in-box cold brew solutions are perfect for at-home consumption and well suited to office spaces and social gatherings.
Thanks to the robust, angular outer casing, bag-in-box cold brews can be easily stacked and packed for transport. Kraft corrugated cardboard acts as a stable temperature controller and protects the internal contents from sunlight exposure and oxidation, both of which contribute to the degradation of cold brew quality. It is also lighter than aluminium or glass.
Instead of multiple single-serve aluminium cans or bottles, consumers looking for cold brew in larger quantities can choose a bag-in-box cold brew product in the quantity they require. These products are refrigerator-friendly, and dispensing is easy and comprehensive, mitigating undispensed waste.
After consumption, recycling is straightforward: the user simply separates the cardboard outer from the internal plastic bag and recycles the components according to their local procedures.
Offering consumers convenient ways to achieve their own sustainability goals is more likely to lead to commercial success, especially when combined with higher-quality cold brew and lower price points. The savings made via more efficient transportation can be passed on to your customers.
At Cold Brew Pak, we offer aseptic bag-in-box packaging for cold brew and fully compostable cold brew pouches as more sustainable alternatives to market norms. Food safety is at the top of modern consumers’ minds as they become more discerning about the businesses they choose to support.
By choosing to distribute your cold brew in aseptic bag-in-box packaging solutions, you will streamline your transport and logistics processes, reassure your customers that their cold brew is safe and of the highest possible quality, and help them to achieve their own personal sustainability aspirations in a convenient and straightforward manner.
Interested in learning more about Cold Brew Pak? Contact our team here!
Aseptic bag-in-box packaging
