Sustainable is Good

Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Launches New Packaging for Newman's Own Organics and Single Origin Coffee Lines

 

Vermont-based Green Mountain Coffee Roasters (GMCR) recently introduced new packaging for its popular Newman's Own Organics line of coffees.  The new packaging features both structural and cosmetic improvements in the coffee bag.

GMCR is using new coffee bag technology from industry leader fres-co.  Like the bag Sustainable is Good reported Jim's Organic Coffee is using (also made by fres-co), the new Newman's Own Organics bag contains an inner layer of 19.4% PLA - a NatureWorks polymer made from corn.  GMCR said, "The introduction of PLA helps reduce the environmental impact of the packaging while maintaining the necessary barriers to moisture and light that keep the coffee at its freshest."

The bag uses fres-co's Corner Seal technology which allows the packaging to maintain a crisp shape on the store shelf and increases the amount of visible printable surface for graphics.  "The deeper, shorter bag fits better on the shelf and has increased functionality for both shipping and displaying."

The graphic design on the new packaging has been completely reworked to give the coffee bags a premium look.  "The bags' premium look and rich copper color are a reflection of the high quality coffee within," the company said.  Graphic design for the new packaging was done by GMCR own design department. 

Nell Newman, president of Newman's Own Organics said, "I love the look of the new packaging and think it will draw more coffee devotees to our products so they can experience what a distinctive and varied selection of coffees we have.  The packaging is an expression of the care and attention that Green Mountain Coffee Roasters puts into sourcing and roasting these coffees for us."

The new Newman's Own Organics coffee packaging is currently available to consumers across the country.

GMCR has also created new packaging its own premium Single Origins line of coffees.  The new packaging will also incorporate the 19.4% PLA lining.  The graphic design for this line has also been updated to reflect the change, vaguely resembling the Newman's packaging without the metallic look to it.   

The new Single Origins packaging is being sold to into stores now and should be more widely distributed in the Jan/Feb time frame according to Sandy Yusen, Director of Public Relations for GMCR. 

When asked whether we could expect to see similar changes to the packaging of other GMRC brand coffees, Yusen said, "We are looking at other ways to make our packaging materials more environmentally friendly and hope to incorporate these innovations into other products in our line."

Jim's Organic Coffee Greens its Coffee Packaging

Massachusetts-based Jim's Organic Coffee has introduced a new greener coffee bag made by fres-co.

The new 12 oz. bag will serve as the company's consumer retail packaging and incorporates green components never before used in a coffee bag. 

The bag is the result of efforts by fres-co to produce a coffee bag that retains the ability to keep coffee fresh while using greener components.  The new bag is the first generation of a coffee bag made with renewable resources on the concept of working to replace petroleum-based components in its old coffee bag with renewable ones.

Jim's Organic Coffee is the first coffee company using polylactide (PLA) resin in its bag.  The new bags are made of 19% PLA used in a layer that replaces 48-gauge polyester in the old bag.  The PLA used in the bag is from NatureWorks LLC, a stand-alone company owned by Cargill.

Made by fres-co, who makes coffee bags for a number of major brands, the bags are a major step towards the development of a green coffee bag. 

Jim Cannell, founder of Jim's Organic Coffee told Sustainable is Good, "Any way we can move in a more sustainable direction without compromising quality is always a good thing.  For us, this comes from simply asking our vendors what is new and, in this case, it was something a vendor had been working on for about a year."

"The rest of the bag is a foil laminate (plastic and aluminum foil).  We have always felt that the greatest justice we can do for the organic movement is to provide great coffee.  These are the best way to bag coffee if it is to stay fresh," Cannell said.

Cannell looks at the larger picture when assessing the greenness of his packaging. "If higher quality coffee moves people to purchase more organic then, yes, we consider it green," he said.

Jim's Organic Coffee's new packaging also received a face lift from well known graphic designer Edgar Stewart.   Stewart's work is no stranger to packaging he's done work for Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream and Nantucket Nectars Juice among others.

"Edgar Stewart did the design working with my pictures and experiences," said Cannell.  The graphic design works well with fres-co's matte finish select finishing which helps present the graphics in a unique and aesthetically pleasing fashion. The layout of the graphic design is also well done with the trail of steam from the coffee cup on the front of the bag ending right at the bag's one-way valve.

Jim's Organic Coffee's new packaging is currently available, the company sells direct to consumers through its web site.  Its products are also available through a number of retailers and restaurants.

The new bags carry text on the bottom identifying their greenness, "This bag is the first generation of sealed, stay fresh coffee bags to include renewable resources in its design.