Club Coffee, part of ofi, and one of North America’s largest coffee roasters, has been recognised at the 2023 Reuters Responsible Business Awards for having the most innovative sustainable packaging solution.
AromaPak, featuring Boardio technology, uses recyclable paper-based packaging made from renewable, high-quality tree fibre from sustainably managed forests, as certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.
It was developed to address high volumes of packaging waste from coffee and was recognised by judges as a “creative, appealing and practical solution to immediate business and societal needs”.
“Club Coffee’s technology is an inspiring solution for a phenomenal problem,” said the judges of the awards, which celebrate the latest progress in sustainable business.
“[We are] most inspired by the potential impact this can have across other food categories and sectors.”
Solange Ackrill, VP Strategy & Marketing at Club Coffee, says AromaPak brings the company closer to its aim of making all packaging either recyclable, compostable or reusable by 2030.
“With an estimated 2.25 billion cups of coffee enjoyed every day, there are steps we can all take to help minimise waste and improve the environmental footprint of our daily caffeine hit,” Ackrill says.
“We are delighted to be recognised for our sustainable packaging solution that delivers both environmental benefits, convenience, and the fresh coffee that consumers expect. This has been an incredible journey and collaborative process through the entire value chain, from field to cup.”
AromaPak replaces multilayer bags and cans traditionally used to package coffee beans and grounds that tend to contain plastic or metal. Coffee products have generally been packaged in this way, but cans and bags can present problems for recyclers, and often end up in landfills.
Club Coffee says that up until May 2023, AromaPak had achieved significant ecological improvements, including:
- Carbon reduction: 90 per cent less carbon versus large steel cans
- Reduced plastic: a 50 per cent reduction in plastic vs bags and a 43 per cent reduction vs large cans
- Improved emissions footprint: 90 per cent reduction in transport emissions vs traditional cans.
Club Coffee says AromaPak is incredibly light compared to steel cans and can be shipped as flat sheets, meaning fewer trailers are required for transportation.