After almost 3 years of exploring compostable packaging, certifications, testing, re-sealable containers and re-using bags, all had issues and none worked as well as our existing catering packaging which unfortunately cannot be recycled, until now. We collect every bag we supply to customers, bale them and send them to Terracycle UK who recycle them into long-life plastic products such as watering cans, plant boxes and park benches’
From meeting management at Panda Waste, the largest waste collection business in Ireland, we discovered that no plastic is recycled in Ireland. We sort waste here and export it to a variety of mainly Asian countries following China’s refusal to take our soft plastics in 2017. So called, recycled packaging offered by some of our competitors is either being incinerated here in Ireland or being shipped to Asia where it is either incinerated or illegally dumped. Incineration does create fuel but dioxin levels have to be carefully monitored and nothing new is created.
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A circular plastics economy is a sustainable alternative to the traditional linear model of create – consume – dispose: keeping plastic in use for as long as possible, recovering and recycling it to extract value and regenerate it into new products, creating a make – consume – recycle model. The model eliminates waste plastic into the environment and reduces the requirement for fossil feedstock in plastic production.
Tackling waste is an important component of the Climate Action Plan with some 60% of all greenhouse gas emissions linked to the production and use of raw materials. This is the most sustainable packaging solution we can find and we are very proud to be the first Irish Coffee Roasters to offer this service.
Home users can send us bags for recycling HERE.
Read more about Sustainable Coffee.