All About Packaging
We put a lot of thought into our coffee bags, shipping pouches, and shipping boxes. There are approximately 1,273,489,987 different options out there and we sifted through all of them (that may be a slight exaggeration).
COFFEE BAGS
When it comes to coffee bags, we were looking for packaging that protects the coffee from light, has a one-way valve (to let carbon dioxide escape but prevents moisture, oxygen, and bacteria from entering), and is resealable for ease of use. Since coffee bags are one-time use, we also wanted to minimize waste and negative environmental-impact. We settled on K-Seal Coffee Bags from Dutch Pack Coffee, a manufacturer in The Netherlands that makes just the high quality bag we were looking for! Plus, these bags are recyclable and Dutch Pack offsets it's carbon footprint by funding The Cookstove Project; A project to supply clean cookstoves in coffee-growing regions where many people still cook over open fires, which is not only polluting but very dangerous! We love the full-circle relationship between coffee producer, bag manufacture, and coffee roaster.
POLY MAILERS
We needed a light-weight shipping option that would protect coffee from the elements. After researching Biodegradable bags (which sounds great!), I learned they're actually worse for the planet than traditional poly mailers.
"They’re usually still made with polyethylene, which is comprised of oil and natural gas, but then they’re treated with an additive that speeds up the degradation process. Unfortunately, the microplastics that result are not recyclable. As such, they generally end up in landfills, where they release dangerous methane emissions as they degrade." - Eco Enclose
So we settled on poly mailers from Eco Enclose. They are made in the USA of 100% recycled content (50% of that is post-consumer waste, which is incredibly high!), have a tear strip to make them reusable, and are recyclable. Plus our custom branded mailers look so cute!
SHIPPING BOXES
Good ol' paper boxes didn't require a lot of research since a box is a box is a box. :) What DID take some thought was our banded tape! We love using custom packaging tape from Sticker Mule (who makes everything from stickers to labels to t shirts!).
THE TAKEAWAY
Packaging may seem boring, but it's an important part of what we do! If you just skimmed to this part I don't blame you. ;) Just know that Florin Coffee has considered the quality and environmental impact of each piece of packaging we use. We all deserve it!