Caffe Prima Launches New Compostable Coffee Packaging
Convex Plastics, June 2nd, 2011A Christchurch company has now made it possible to enjoy a cup of fresh roasted coffee and help save the environment too.
Caffe Prima has made drinking their sustainably- produced Fair Trade and other boutique coffees an even more satisfying experience by introducing New Zealand’s first compostable coffee pack for fresh roasted coffee.
Econic coffee bags used by Caffe Prima
The three films are made from sustainably-produced wood pulp and corn sources and have all been internationally certified to the British Standard EN13432 for composting and biodegradability.
Caffe Prima has been at the forefront of the New Zealand coffee industry since their establishment in 1995. Over that time coffee consumption in New Zealand has increased dramatically with a resulting huge increase in non-renewable packaging waste. Late last year the company made the decision to switch to Econic packaging as part of their commitment to produce great tasting coffee that is also socially and environmentally responsible.
Caffe Prima owner Geoff Johnson says, “Caffe Prima literally means ‘first coffee’, and we are committed to the creation of excellence in all roasts and methods of coffee making. That commitment also includes the use of market-leading sustainable packaging. The earthquake delayed the launch of our new packaging but hasn’t stopped us moving forward.”
Christchurch-based Caffe Prima had to shut down for a short time after the February earthquake, but that hasn’t stopped the contract coffee roasting business from growing. The company has taken on two new staff since February and expects to be employing more staff in the near future.
The new Kiwi-designed Econic coffee packs are a perfect reflection of the Caffe Prima company motto: `grown globally, perfected locally’.
The Econic packs have been specifically developed by Convex Plastics to provide the ideal sealing and barrier properties for coffee and dry foods.
They are available both with and without an innovative bio-degradable vent to allow the CO2 gases given off by hot roasted coffee beans to be vented through the top and bottom bag seals. This optional vent, also developed by Convex Plastics, replaces the traditional non-renewable one-way valve button, and is activated by positive pressure inside the bag.
As well as developing the new Econic packaging, Convex also carried out a controlled composting trial at a Waikato bark composting facility last year to verify its breakdown rate. The Econic packs started to soften two weeks after composting, and had almost completely disappeared after just fourteen weeks, with only small fragments remaining.
Convex Plastics National Sales and Marketing Manager, Howard Clark says the results of the composting trial confirm that empty Caffe Prima bags will break down well in a home composting environment.
Howard says, “The development of Econic is a result of extensive trials we have carried out over the past ten years to develop functional renewable packaging options for a variety of applications. We are committed to continue taking a lead in sustainable packaging and to work with innovative companies like Caffe Prima to help reduce landfill waste.”
You can find out more about Caffe Prima by visiting: www.caffeprima.co.nz