Which sustainable cold coffee packaging should you choose?
Sustainable cold coffee packaging is available to coffee businesses looking to take a more environmentally friendly approach to how they package their goods. It’s increasingly important to modern consumers – especially young ones – that their favourite brands do so.
For cold coffee away from home, there are several sustainable options to choose from, including aluminium cans, BPA-free plastic bottles, and biodegradable coffee bag-in-boxes and pouches.
In 2024, Califia Farms, a leading plant-based dairy alternative company, launched two new cold coffee ready-to-drink (RTD) products that are packaged with sustainable materials. The move is evidence of how in-tune the company is with key consumer trends active in the wider coffee industry.
Califia chose BPA-free plastic bottles for their new product, a sustainable cold coffee packaging solution that fits with their overall brand ethos. Still, there are other options too. Read on to learn more.
Which types of cold coffee products will be successful in 2025?
As we enter 2025, cold coffee is one of the most positive trends in the sector. In the United States – from where Califia hails – cold coffee is booming, especially with younger audiences. According to a report from the National Coffee Association (NCA), 45% of coffee drinkers between the ages of 18 and 24 said they’d consumed a cold coffee in the past day.
Kelsey Olsen, an analyst at market research firm Mintel, added that “there is less craving for variety with older generations.” However, data from the largest American retailers suggest that cold coffee is growing across the board – 75% of drinks served at Starbucks are cold.
Cold coffee is rising, but the format in which it is served is also of interest to modern coffee consumers. Ready-to-drink beverages are also growing year-on-year – around 3% CAGR is expected until 2029. For coffee companies, combining cold beverages with on-the-go packaging is a great way to benefit from two positive trends.
Califia is doing precisely that. In February 2024, the company announced two new flavours in ready-to-drink format, a Matcha Almond Latte and a Chai Almond Latte, adding to its already impressive RTD line-up that includes a regular almond latte, a mocha latte, and salted caramel latte.
The press release states, “These two new single-serve versions of our popular Matcha Almond Latte and Chai Almond Latte are made with simple, plant-based ingredients and contain 40% less sugar than the average single-serve coffee and tea blends.”
“A convenient grab-and-go solution for busy routings, Califia Farms’ new single-serve tea lattes are perfectly portable and fit into any gym bag, lunchbox or cooler for a smooth and satisfying treat.”
Califia’s move illustrates the company’s grasp of key trends within the coffee industry for the coming year. Convenient coffee solutions are key, but just one part of an overall successful product. Alignment with cold coffee trends, health and wellness trends – including plant-based ingredients – and sustainable packaging is essential to long-term success.
Different approaches to sustainable cold coffee packaging
Califia’s RTD lineup uses white, BPA-free plastic bottles, a design that has become instantly recognisable and iconic for the brand. Customers easily recognise Califia on the shelf – incredibly competitive spaces in today’s food and beverage industry.
Tellingly, Califia makes sure to highlight to its customers key sustainability credentials on both its packaging and website. Symbols confirming their products’ vegan qualities, gluten-free qualities, and kosher-friendliness sit alongside a declaration that their packaging is BPA-free and recyclable.
In 2024, the company announced that it was transitioning all its bottles to recycled plastic in an effort to have less of an environmental impact.
In a press release, CEO Dave Ritterbush said, “This transition to 100% rPET represents a significant commitment to soften Califia’s environmental footprint. While Califia is an inherently sustainable business thanks to the plant-based products we produce, we recognise the importance of ongoing, forward progress in our sustainability journey.”
“By moving to 100% rPET for our iconic curvy bottle, we’re taking a major step in reducing our reliance on virgin plastic and advancing the principles of a circular economy.”
Califia’s products are known for their curvy packaging, but going forward the company can also consider other sustainable cold coffee packaging solutions for different product types or customer need states.
For single-serve, ready-to-drink cold coffee, aluminium cans are also a great, sustainable option. Aluminium is among the most widely recycled packaging materials on the planet – almost 30 million tonnes are processed every year without experiencing any degradation.
Flexible cold brew pouches are an even more sustainable cold coffee packaging solution for single-serve units. These sachets come in 187 ml or 350 ml sizes and are comprised of LDPE and PLA plastics, materials that are 100% compostable and biodegradable. Data shows that despite aluminium recycling-friendly status, customers perceive compostable packaging as the most sustainable.
For larger volumes, like social events, office spaces, or home consumption, bag-in-box cold brew packaging is an excellent option for a business like Califia Farms. This sustainable cold coffee packaging can hold up to 20 litres of cold brew coffee, cold brew tea, or other liquid and convenient dispenses via a screw cap or tap.
The outer box is made from kraft paper and corrugated cardboard, two compostable materials. The internal bag is aseptic and made from the same sustainable plastics as cold brew pouches, rendering the entire unit compostable and biodegradable.
At Cold Brew Pak, we offer bag-in-box packaging, flexible cold brew pouches, custom cans, and BPA-free plastic bottles as sustainable cold coffee packaging solutions for the specialty coffee industry. Our products are immensely customisable and feature large design areas to help you grab customer attention on busy supermarket shelves.
To source your own line of sustainable cold coffee packaging, visit our website or get in touch with us directly.
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Sustainable cold coffee packaging
