Zero Waste at Nossa Familia Coffee

Embedded in our company's ethos is a steadfast commitment to minimizing our environmental impact. Even when faced with challenges like increased difficulty, expense, or time investment, we remain dedicated to this principle.

Unfortunately, the coffee industry is inherently wasteful, with practices like single-use paper to-go cups and non-recyclable coffee bag materials contributing to environmental harm. Rather than accepting these norms, we actively seek ways to improve.

Most recently, this has lead us to make a pivotal shift in our packaging strategy, saying goodbye to compostable bags in favor of renewable and recyclable materials.

NEW 12OZ + 5LB BAGS

12 oz Nossa Familia coffee bags now feature SugarFlex™, an innovative material that's both durable and recyclable* in plastic collection streams. SugarFlex™ is not only highly recyclable but also carbon-negative, crafted from a renewable plant-based byproduct actively reducing carbon emissions. Due to its inert nature, if Sugarflex™ ends up in landfills it gradually reforms into biogenic carbon instead of generating greenhouse gas emissions.

We've also revamped our 5 lb packaging. These larger coffee bags now consist of 85% post-consumer plastic, certified safe for food contact. Not only do they provide the durability and functionality required for packaging our coffee beans, but they also boast a 50% smaller carbon footprint compared to plastics made from virgin fossil fuels.

Not all our bags have transitioned from compostable to recyclable materials, but we're actively pursuing this goal to ensure our packaging aligns with our environmental commitment.

*Both our 12 oz and 5 lb bags are made of non-compostable, plastic material that needs to go into a dedicated polyethylene stream or a drop-off collection stream, which are limited although growing rapidly. Ridwell, a Portland-based recycler of special materials, now offers multi-layer plastic bag recycling - including non-compostable coffee bags like ours. If Ridwell isn't available in your area, online directories such as GreenCitizen list nearby recycling facilities and resources, many of them free, nationwide.

WHY THE SWITCH FROM COMPOSTABLES?

You might be wondering why we made the switch from compostable to recyclable materials. The truth is, while compostable packaging seemed like a sustainable solution initially, we've since learned that it's not always the most environmentally friendly option.

Here’s why:  

• Not all items compost fully, leading to contamination in finished compost. 
• Collection programs accepting compostable products may mix non-compostable items, increasing operating costs and degrading compost quality.  
• Chemicals from compostable packaging may transfer into finished compost, posing risks to human and environmental health.  
• Packaging materials accepted in compost facilities may hinder the production of compost used in organic farming due to national standards. 
• Compostable items may have a larger environmental footprint than non-compostable alternatives due to manufacturing processes. 

Learn More: For a deeper dive into the reasons behind our packaging switch, we invite you to read the full letter from Composters Serving Oregon.