How to create perfect cold brew bag-in-box packaging solutions for your market
Cold brew bag-in-box packaging solutions help businesses looking to enter the now-lucrative cold brew coffee market with elegant, sustainable, and eye-catching products.
According to Stratistics MRC, global cold brew coffee revenue amounted to over $1.7 billion in 2024 and is expected to exceed $6 billion in annual sales by 2030 – a compound annual growth rate of 23.5%.
For reference, cold brew growth is outstripping other notable macro consumer trends, including specialty coffee, ready-to-drink beverages, and health and wellness products.
Success in the cold brew coffee space is determined by several factors – high-quality coffee, effective brand storytelling, product variety, and sustainable packaging all play their part. Brands that combine all four will be well on their way to success.
To learn more, we spoke with João Soares da Costa, marketing technology manager at Zendesk and co-founder of Kindology.
What are cold brew bag-in-box solutions?
Cold brew has only become a more mainstream coffee shop or supermarket staple in recent years; the Third and Fourth waves of coffee culture, beginning in the early 2010s, really catapulted the product into the global market.
In terms of service format, cold brew origins began in specialty coffee shops before being adopted by larger branded chains as their popularity grew. In both cases, cold brew was served for consumption on-site or in takeaway cups for customers on the move.
Today, buoyed by changes to consumer habits sparked by the COVID-19 pandemic and the years since, cold brew has become a ready-to-drink (RTD) staple, packaged in aluminium cans, cold brew coffee pouches, cold brew bag-in-box formats, or plastic or glass bottles.
Cold brew bag-in-box packaging solutions are founded on flexible and sustainable packaging principles. They offer several key benefits over more traditional formats for both manufacturers and consumers.
In essence, a cold brew bag-in-box packaging solution consists of two main components. The outer ‘box’, made from kraft paper and corrugated cardboard, provides shape and protection and a vast customisable and brandable surface area. The interior ‘bag’ is an aseptic plastic bladder that holds the cold brew liquid, complete with dispensing tap or screw cap.
Cold brew bag-in-box packaging solutions vary in size and shape, making them handy features for coffee businesses manufacturing or selling cold brew coffee. Such companies can present a stratified offering to their consumers that proves more sustainable and cost-effective than the alternative aluminium cans or plastic bottles.
Smaller boxes – 1.5 to three or five litres – easily fit in home refrigerators, service smaller offices, or cater to small social gatherings. Larger boxes – up to 20 litres – offer customers a convenient way to cater to larger groups.
In both cases, offering cold brew bag-in-box packaging solutions to your customers will help them avoid purchasing multiple single-portion aluminium cans or bottles and behave more sustainably.
Bag-in-box packaging is 100% recyclable. The user needs only to separate the outer box from the inner bag and recycle them separately according to their local regulations. Studies show that consumers perceive compostable packaging, plant-based packaging, and plastic films made from renewable raw materials as more sustainable than metal containers like aluminium cans.
“For younger generations, sustainability isn’t just a plus – it’s something they expect,” says João.
“If a company doesn’t care about the planet, why should anyone care about them? It’s like meeting another person; you want them to have good values. Showing that you’re doing the right thing makes people trust you and want to stick around, and it feels good to support businesses that are trying to make the world a better place.”
Things to consider for your market and your business
As mentioned, cold brew bag-in-box packaging solutions offer several advantages over alternative packaging types. On the manufacturer or retailer side, bag-in-box products cut down on shipping costs, storage space, and waste thanks to their square shape, lightweight materials and aseptic filling processes.
For consumers, bag-in-box presents an even more sustainable way for them to enjoy cold brew. Instead of purchasing multiple single-serve aluminium cans or glass bottles for at-home consumption, they can purchase the equivalent volume in one bag-in-box solution and easily store it in their refrigerator for multiple servings.
When designing your cold brew bag-in-box packaging solution, you should ensure that your consumers understand the packaging’s sustainable aspects. Guidance on separating packaging correctly and recycling according to local regulations makes sustainable habits easier for consumers to adopt. This sends a powerful message, especially when combined with the sustainability credentials of your cold brew coffee and corporate social responsibility measures,
Branding is a key component of success, and bag-in-box solutions offer more brandable product real estate than other formats. In a competitive marketplace, eye-catching, social media-friendly aesthetics and efficient brand storytelling are key. Finding a packaging partner that offers a high degree of customizability is essential to help your cold brew stand out on competitive shelves.
“People don’t just buy services or products anymore. We buy into the brand,” says João.
“There are alot of businesses offering similar products or services, maybe even better things sometimes, but a cool design, that’s what grabs attention and makes people feel connected. A strong aesthetic makes people want to be part of what you’re doing.”
Modern shoppers want a variety of options, so consider a range of sizes and designs when sourcing your bag-in-box solutions to suit different consumer need states. By developing a range of product sizes, your business will be better positioned to capitalise fully on general cold brew growth.
At Cold Brew Pak, our cold brew bag-in-box packaging solutions have been designed with all of the above in mind. We use the highest-grade sustainable materials to build our bag-in-box solutions, including low-density polyethene and polylactic acid biodegradable plastic for internal aseptic bags. Our cardboard outer boxes are built with 100% biodegradable corrugated cardboard and kraft paper so your business can adopt a comprehensive approach to packaging sustainability.
We also offer industry-leading MOQs, fast turnaround times, and international shipping, which are designed to help you go to market as fast as possible and capitalise on new trends.
Contact our team to get started on designing your own cold brew bag-in-box packaging solutions.
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Cold brew bag-in-box packaging solutions
