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Composting your Driftaway coffee bags
COMPOSTING
Here's a comprehensive guide to composting your Driftaway bags!
WHY COMPOSTABLE?
COMPOSTABLE MEANS LESS PLASTIC IN THE WORLD
Being a subscription service, we send hundreds of coffee bags around the world every month, and we're proud that the vast majority of what we send isn't made of plastic.
DID YOU KNOW...
Less than 9% of plastics actually get recycled.
A staggering 32% of the 78 million tons of plastic packaging produced annually is left to flow into our oceans; the equivalent of pouring one garbage truck of plastic into the ocean every minute.
Every minute, 8 tons of plastic waste are dumped into our oceans.
(source: World Economic Forum)
COFFEE BAGS
These bags are 100% commercially compostable! Every single part: the valve, the seal, the adhesive - everything! There is not an element of these bags that is not certified compostable, and each layer is d ASTM 6400 Municipally and Industrially Composted. They're also PFAS free.
HOW TO COMPOST
- These bags should be composted commercially.
- They can go into your home compost, but will take much longer to break down.
These bags are 60% commercially compostable, with nearly all plant-based, renewable film layers (Biotrē™ 1.0). They are made from natural kraft paper with a wood pulp based barrier layer and an interior oxo-degradable polyethylene "PE" layer. They are also PFAS free.
HOW TO COMPOST
- Home compost only - they are not rated for commercial/industrial compost facilities.
- Remove the label, one-way valve and zipper before composting.
- If you find the 40% PE layer in your compost, you can remove it manually and dispose of it in the regular trash.
The entire Steeped Coffee Single-Serve Method certified compostable through ASTM D6400 and D6868 standards intended for commercially/industrial/municipal composting facilities
Outer packaging: 100% commercially compostable in a commercial setting
The inner coffee bag: Immersion Filters are a unique construction made using food-grade renewable plant-based materials. The feedstock for this material is also non-GMO. The material is a custom hybrid filter made to work specifically for the Steeped Method. These filters allow for optimal water flow in, with maximum flavor out. Steeped Bags that are made using a renewable, plant-based, non-GMO, certified commercially compostable material, which includes the filter, string, and tab.
HOW TO COMPOST
- The outer bag should be composted commercially.
- They can go into your home compost, but will take much longer to break down.
- The inner pouch is biodegradable, so should go into your trash.
COLD BREW MESH BAGS
The one piece of our packaging puzzle yet to be compostable is the mesh bag we use for cold brew coffee. The bag is, however, biodegradable. These mesh bags should be disposed of in your trash.
OTHER PACKAGING
Our mailers, corrugated boxes, retail boxes, and postcards are all paper-based. We recommend recycling these materials to help reduce waste.
CAN I COMPOST THE DRIFTAWAY BAG AT HOME?
You can certainly compost at home, but it will take much longer for the bag to decompose, especially depending on your pile, weather, and materials. Commercially compostable materials require the controlled temperature and pressure environment of a composting facility to biodegrade.
WHAT IF I JUST THROW IT IN THE TRASH?
You won't get compost in a traditional landfill, but at least you didn't consume plastic and didn't put plastic into the earth!
COMPOSTABLE VS. BIODEGRADABLE
KNOW THE DIFFERENCES!
Because our bags are compostable, they are automatically biodegradable - but when you're out in the world looking for other products, just know that it doesn't necessarily work the other way around:
All compostable products are biodegradable.
Not all biodegradable products are compostable
Compostable products are made of organic materials that are able to degrade with time into healthy soil.
Biodegradable products are not necessarily organic materials. They can be plastics that break down, but without a time requirement, and you may end up with micro plastics.
FAQ
What is composting?
Composting is the natural process of recycling organic matter. The resulting decomposed matter is called compost, and it's rich in nutrients.
Is the valve on the bag compostable?
For the 12g, 2 oz, and 4 oz bags, the valve is compostable. For the 12 oz and 1 lb bags, the valve is not compostable and should be removed before composting.
Is the mesh bag for cold brew compostable?
Unfortunately, we haven't found a compostable solution for the cold brew mesh bags - but they are biodegradable.
What is industrial composting?
It's just composting, but a a large scale and with temperature, pressure and aeration regulated.
The result is the same as in home composting: decomposed matter, rich in nutrients.