Sustainable cold brew coffee packaging options: Which is best for your brand?
Sustainability and cold brew coffee are two of the fastest-growing consumer trends driving broader coffee industry growth. Sustainable cold brew coffee packaging helps coffee businesses capitalise on both, offering consumers what they want and packaging how they want.
Cold brew coffee is becoming increasingly prevalent as a retail product, lining supermarket shelves, convenience store aisles, and petrol station forecourts. For younger shoppers, who live busy, on-the-go lifestyles, cold brew coffee is a convenient alternative to a traditional caffeine kick.
Cold brew has been packaged in myriad different formats since its popularisation in the early 2010s. Glass and plastic bottles, aluminium cans, flexible coffee pouches, or bag-in-box solutions have all been tried and tested, but some offer particular advantages with regards to environmental-friendliness.
Read on to learn how Alex French, CEO and co-founder of Bizzy Cold Brew, thinks about sustainable cold brew coffee packaging.
How are cold brew and sustainability intertwined?
The National Coffee Association reported in late 2023 that cold brew popularity had risen by more than 300% since 2016. 45% of that growth was witnessed between January 2023 and October 2023 alone, indicating that not only is the segment growing, but its growth is accelerating.
Several factors have contributed to this. Firstly, the COVID-19 pandemic catalysed a shift towards at-home consumption. In an effort to recreate coffee shop-quality brews at home, cold brew and cold brew concentrate were perceived as a great replacement – at-home consumption has remained close to immediate post-pandemic highs since.
Online coffee sales have also increased dramatically as services improve and consumers look to replicate the coffee shop experience in the comfort of their own homes. Cold brew is well suited for such purchasing behaviour; it’s easy to package, transport, and keep for extended periods under the right conditions.
From a sustainability perspective, the coffee industry has been a leading voice in sustainable business practices for the wider food and beverage industry for some years.
In a LinkedIn post, Christine Cruz-Clarke, global head of marketing intelligence at Kraft Heinz, said, “Given the symbiotic relationship between coffee and the environment, it’s essential that coffee makers around the globe prioritise sustainable production methods.”
“One of the simplest ways to reduce your carbon footprint is by engaging with brands and businesses that align with your environmental goals.”
Christine’s message is not only relevant to B2B relationships. Consumers increasingly look to align themselves with and purchase products from companies that eschew sustainable business practices.
78% of consumers value a sustainable lifestyle, and 30% are more likely to buy products with eco-friendly credentials. This extends to packaging materials used – 69% of consumers look for recyclable packaging, and 79% look at recycling information on product labels to ensure proper disposal.
By offering cold brew products packaged with sustainable materials to customers, like sustainable cold brew coffee packaging, coffee businesses can capitalise on the tide of these two key trends.
Options for sustainable cold brew coffee packaging
Numerous businesses have used sustainable cold brew coffee packaging to reduce their carbon footprints, appeal to more customers, and match the quality of their packaging with the quality of their products.
“Bizzy cold brew is committed to sustainable business practices in all areas of its operations,” it says.
“The brand’s cold brew bottles are made of 100% post-consumer recycled plastic (excluding the cap), and it composts spent coffee grounds – 650,000 pounds last year alone. We also repurpose 100% of our burlap coffee bean sacks and utilize after-burner technology to eliminate airborne emissions from the roasting process.
“We wanted our new look to elevate our visual identity and clearly communicate our craft product,” says Alex.
“With nods to an era when quality was the rule and not the exception. Bizzy cold brew is an affordable luxury, and we’re excited that the branding now embodies our values and will stand out on shelves.”
Alex highlights another key point about sustainable cold brew coffee packaging – its ability to make an impact on increasingly busy and competitive supermarket shelves. Customisable packaging is essential in this regard.
Besides the recyclable plastic bottle used by Bizzy, there are other sustainable cold brew coffee packaging options to choose from, depending on the target market.
Aluminium cans are a popular choice. They are 100% recyclable, offer a 360-degree canvas on which to paint compelling brand aesthetic and sustainability credentials, and are convenient for on-the-go consumption.
Flexible cold brew coffee pouches are a good alternative to cans for single-serve needs. They come in more compact sizes, like 187 ml or 375 ml, and boast a large, square front, ideal for catching consumer attention. LDPE and PLA plastics ensure pouches are biodegradable and compostable, which are claims favoured by consumers.
For larger, multi-serve needs, sustainable bag-in-box cold brew packaging is a highly eco-conscious choice. The two primary components are an outer kraft paper and corrugated cardboard box and an internal aesthetic, biodegradable plastic bag. Once consumed, the user simply separates the two and recycles them according to local procedures.
Bag-in-boxes, like flexible pouches, can accommodate larger quantities, up to 30 litres and 3 litres, respectively. This reduces the carbon footprint of transportation and shipping and helps consumers avoid the need to buy multiple single-serve units for regular consumption.
At Cold Brew Pak, we offer multiple sustainable cold brew coffee packaging options, including BPA-free plastic bottles, aluminium cans, flexible cold brew pouches and bag-in-box formats.
By helping our clients package their products in materials that are biodegradable, compostable, certified recyclable and sustainably sourced, they can better convert new customers while demonstrating to their existing audience how important environmental concerns are taken at their business.
Visit our website or get in touch directly to source your own sustainable cold brew coffee packaging solutions.
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Sustainable cold brew coffee packaging
Images provided by Bizzy
