Last updated: 1/7/2024
What does ABA mean?
ABA stands for Australasian Bioplastics Association. It’s the peak industry body for manufacturers, converters and distributors of bioplastic products and materials throughout Australia and New Zealand.
What is the ABA home compostable certification (or verification)?
It’s an official endorsement given by the Australasian Bioplastics Association. It certifies that a product, bag, or packaging conforms to the Australian Standard 5810-2010, which covers “Biodegradable plastics - Biodegradable plastics suitable for home composting”.
The AS5810-2010 provides assessment criteria for recognised third parties to test materials’ biodegradation in home composting conditions within a specific timeframe. It is similar to the widely known European Standard EN13432, but AS5810-2010 requires an additional ‘worm test’.
How do I know when a product is ABA Home Compostable certified?
A certified home compostable item will display the ABA Home Composting logo, with “AS5810” and the unique manufacturer’s ABA licensee number written below. Just like so:
Can ABA Home Compostable certified items be industrially composted?
Our logic tells us “yes”, but we’ve asked our supplier (Eco Barista) for confirmation/details.
Do ABA Home Compostable certified items contain PFAS?
ABA requires certifying companies to declare that fluorinated chemicals (often referred to as perfluorinated or polyfluorinated alkyl substances—PFOA & PFAS) are NOT intentionally added to products undergoing verification.
Are Sample Coffee bean bags ABA Home Compostable certified?
All Sample Coffee bag sizes are ABA Home Compostable and OK Compost Home certified. These are supplied by Eco Barista.
Our first batch of 250g and 1kg bags do not display the ABA Home Compostable logo because they were printed before Eco Barista gained the approval to use it. But they are exactly the same as the ones Eco Barista currently offers with that certification.
What are the bags made of?
Eco Barista tells us the bags are made of renewable sources such as sugarcane, cassava and corn.
Where are they made?
Eco Barista sources them from a manufacturer in China. They are shipped to us via boat (except for some ‘emergency’ situations in which we suddenly run out and need bags as soon as possible, in which case a small batch gets shipped via air).
Does the zip/sealing component compost as well?
Yes. Each bag, as a whole, is ABA Home Compost certified.
Will the bags degrade over time? Should I move my beans to an airtight container?
After rigorous testing and our own daily use, we found our bags stood well the test of time; they keep coffee delicious and protected until the roasted beans naturally start decaying. In fact, this was a critical factor when choosing these particular bags over other materials and alternatives.
Similarly, we placed some bags in the freezer for a few months, and we were satisfied with how they kept their shape and coffee flavour features.
So you don’t need to move your beans to an airtight container (but you can do so if you like). And you don’t need to worry about the bag’s structure or your coffee’s quality. (That being said, don't leave a bag forgotten in your pantry for 6 months or more. We can’t vouch for that!)
Why isn’t the front label compostable?
According to the manufacturer, Avery, our bag labels are “Made from 100% recycled paper and utilising water soluble eco-friendly adhesive. These labels are also FSC® certified." Their disposal instructions, indicate they are recyclable (and after several enquiries, they couldn’t clarify whether the "water soluble eco-friendly adhesive” can be home-composted or industrially composted).
We print them in-house, on demand for each roasting batch, with a FUJIFILM Business Innovation printer. According to the printer provider, the ink is “non-toxic but not vegetable based. The toner contains polyester.” Paper printed this way can be incorporated in the recycling stream.
We’re working to find a solution that doesn’t involve tearing the label off so the whole bag (including the label and valve) can go into a home-compostable bin. We’ll update you as we progress.
Why doesn’t my 250g bag have a valve?
Roasted coffee releases gas during the days after roasting. If there isn’t a valve that lets this gas out, pressure can build up and, sometimes, make the bag explode! So that’s the reason these little things exist in bean bags.
After rigorous testing, we found that the 250g bags could cope without a valve—worst case scenario they puff up and look like a balloon. Keeping the gas inside doesn’t impact the flavour development, and not including this piece of waste is an important waste-reduction exercise (this is the bag size we sell the most).
However, we found that 400-500g and 1kg do still need it. The quantity of coffee is larger, so more gas is generated, and the risk of bag burst is accurate. That's the reason these sizes still come with a valve.
Why isn’t the rear valve compostable?
This small squared piece at the rear of our 400-500g and 1kg bags allows for the evacuation of the CO2 released by the roasted coffee beans (in other words, if this wasn’t there, the bags would explode!).
Eco Barista tells us it’s made of a non-recyclable plastic material and it should go to the general waste. We’ve requested a recyclable or home compostable option, and we’ll keep you updated as soon as this happens.
Why did you choose compostable over recyclable or soft plastic?
This is a puzzle many roasters are going through, with no simple answer or solution. Many of us want to do the right thing, but there doesn't seem to be a clear idea of what’s right.
Paper is great: it’s cost-effective, made of renewable sources and fully recyclable (sometimes compostable if it doesn’t have any added plastic). But, when we tested these options, it didn't meet our quality/ coffee preservation expectations.
Soft plastic (our previous solution) is perfect for quality preservation and cost-effective. However, it’s made of fossil fuels and, as we saw with the REDcycle crisis, not always gets actually recycled.
Compostable packaging is not a straightforward choice. Some options can behave well in terms of quality preservation, but they are fairly expensive compared to the other materials. While, in theory, it is a good environmental choice (it’ll eventually biodegrade), the reality is that most waste management systems don't accept compostable items yet (even if certified under Australian Standards). [At the time of writing, June 2024.]
So, why did we choose the ABA Home Compostable certified packaging you see today?
- It’s made of renewable materials (as opposed to fossil-fuel-based plastic).
- It’s durable and sealable, keeping our coffee delicious and protected until it naturally starts decaying.
- Once used, it can be disposed of at a home compost bin or put in the waste management system (once Australian governments and infrastructure are ready to accept compostable items).
- It shows our customers we’re committed to taking responsible action—doing our best.
As always, we follow the latest industry developments. If and when better science-backed solutions emerge, we’ll adjust to integrate them into our practice.