Composting your Driftaway coffee bags
Yes, your Driftaway bag is compostable!
Every single part - the valve, the seal, the adhesive…everything! Learn how to dispose of your bag below.
Why compostable?
We use compostable packaging because for us, there’s no other option. Being a subscription service, we send hundreds of coffee bags around the world every month, and we’re proud that we aren’t sending plastics. (Have one of our mesh cold brew bags? See below!)
Did you know…
- Less than 9% of plastics actually get recycled
- Every minute, 8 tons of plastic waste are dumped into our oceans (source: World Economic Forum)
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.
Our bags are industrial compostable and PFAS-free.
Where to compost industrially:
Depending on where you live, the ways to get your bag to an industrial composting facility vary, from drop-offs in stores or parks to municipalities that have pick-ups or drop-off locations.
The EPA created an interactive map of the US to find composting (and recycling) facilities near you - just enter your zip code!
https://epa.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=fefb46fd31a14b80a836bd0bd4d788e2
Store Drop-off
Any of your local stores listed on this recycling drop-off link would have insight into composting in your specific area as a resource:
https://nextrex.com/jsfapp/cdocs/20230605000217_9_jsfwd_493_q2_1.pdf
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.
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. Industrial 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
Composting is the natural process of recycling organic matter. The resulting decomposed matter is called compost, and it’s rich in nutrients.
Yes!
Yes!
Unfortunately, we haven't found a compostable solution for the cold brew mesh bags - but they are biodegradable.
Yes!
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.
You can certainly compost at home, but it may take much longer depending on your pile, weather, and materials. Industrial compostable materials often require the controlled temperature and pressure environment of a composting facility to biodegrade.
You won’t get compost in a traditional landfill, but you didn’t consume plastic and didn’t put plastic into the earth.
Each layer of your bag is certified ASTM 6400 Municipally and Industrially Composted.