Custom Recyclable Coffee Bags Manufacturer for Coffee Brands
You have committed to recyclable packaging. Now the bag has to survive two sets of eyes: the customer reading the back panel, and — if you sell into Europe — the regulation that took effect in August 2026. Most “recyclable” bags on the market fail the second test because the valve, the zipper or the barrier layer is a different material.
We build mono-material PE coffee bags from 20g to 1kg, including the closures. From 2011, manufacturing in Dongguan and Foshan under BRCGS Food Safety and ISO 22000:2018, supplying brands in more than 50 markets with a 99.5% on-time delivery rate.
Why Coffee Brands Choose YPAK for Recyclable Bags
Four things buyers check before they ask for a price. Each one is answerable on paper.
One material, all the way through
The pouch body, the zipper and the valve are PE. There is no aluminium layer to separate and no mixed-material closure to strip before the bag can enter a PE stream. This is the difference between a bag that is theoretically recyclable and one that a recycler will actually accept.
Barrier without foil
Our mono-PE structures reach a high oxygen barrier through AlOx coating or an EVOH core layer, instead of an aluminium foil laminate. Measured values on our mono-PE + AlOx structure: OTR < 5 cc/m²/day and WVTR ≤ 0.5 g/m²/24hrs, measured in our own laboratory.
Recycled content when you need it
A PCR layer can be built into the same mono-PE structure, supplied with GRS / RCS certification and a transaction certificate traceable to the batch.
A minimum order you can actually start with
2,000 pieces. Samples in 2–3 days on stock structures.
The Coffee Bag Range
Four formats cover most of what a coffee brand ships. Flat bottom, stand up and side gusset can each be specified in a mono-material PE structure with PE closures when the recyclability claim matters. The flat pouch is the single-use format, normally a paper drip filter.
Flat Bottom Bag
Stylish and trendy bag design, the top choice for premium coffee. A flat base lets the bag stand square on the shelf, and it takes a zipper, a valve and — in mono-PE — a transparent window. Available from 20g to 1kg.
Stand Up Pouch
Classic style,a great value choice.Stands up on its own once filled,and takes a degassing valve and zipper.Available from 150g to 1kg,including the diamond-shaped variant that is currently a strong seller in the Middle East.
Side Gusset Bag
It can stand upright after being filled with beans, making it suitable for large sizes. Two side gussets give the bag its volume, with a tin tie or a valve for resealing. Available from 20g to 1kg.
Flat Pouch
Single-use, usually used with a drip coffee filter. A flat three-side-seal pouch with no base — the standard format for drip bags and single-serve packs. Drip filter versions hold 8g to 15g of coffee.
How the Structure Works
A recyclable coffee bag is an argument about layers. Here is ours, opened up.
| Layer | Material | Recyclability note |
|---|---|---|
| Outer print layer | PE (reverse printed) | Carries the artwork. Same polymer as the rest of the bag |
| Barrier layer | AlOx coating or EVOH core | Blocks oxygen and moisture. AlOx is a sub-micron coating on PE, not a separate film; EVOH is co-extruded |
| Sealant layer | PE | Heat sealing, food contact. Same polymer |
Mono-PE + AlOx
High barrier. OTR < 5 cc/m²/day, WVTR ≤ 0.5 g/m²/24hrs measured in our own laboratory. Single-material PE stream.
Mono-PE + EVOH
Medium to high barrier, application dependent. EVOH raises the oxygen barrier for longer shelf-life requirements. Recyclability must be assessed on the actual EVOH ratio in the structure.
Mono-PE + PCR
Medium to high, application dependent. PE stream with recycled content. GRS / RCS with transaction certificate.
What “Recyclable” Actually Requires in Practice
Three conditions decide whether a mono-material bag gets recycled. We would rather you know them before you print.
1. A PE flexible collection stream has to exist where your customer lives
Mono-PE is designed for the PE stream. In markets where soft plastic is not collected separately, the bag will not be recycled regardless of its structure — it will be sorted out. If recyclability is a claim on your pack, check the collection reality in your selling market first.
2. Print coverage affects sorting
Heavy ink coverage and dark full-bleed designs make near-infrared sorting harder. Lighter coverage and leaving unprinted areas helps the bag be identified as PE. We will tell you when an artwork direction works against the structure.
3. The closures have to match
A PE bag with a PP valve, or a PE bag with a PET zipper, is not single-material in the eyes of a sorting facility. This is where most “recyclable” bags fail on inspection.
From Brief to Delivered Bags: Six Steps
Each step states what you get and how long it takes. Step 3 includes our published sample prices.
1.Requirement and structure confirmation
Tell us the fill weight, the format, the market you sell into and whether the recyclability claim will appear on the pack. We come back with a structure recommendation and a straight answer on what that structure can and cannot claim.
2.Structure and artwork development
We confirm layer build, barrier target, closure type and print method. Artwork is reviewed against the printable area and the material identification requirement before anything goes to press. Free design support is included.
3.Sampling
Stock material and size samples are free and ship in 1 day. Transparent bags take 2–3 days. Digital-printed film takes 7–12 days at $100 (unlaminated) or $200 (laminated to production material). Full details are on our sample policy page — including what each option can and cannot prove.
4.Pre-production confirmation
Materials are purchased only after the sample is signed off. Colour, texture and structure are locked against the approved sample, and the batch identification rule is recorded for the technical file.
5.Production and inspection
Printed on HP Indigo 25K digital presses for short runs, or rotogravure for volume. Seals, zippers and valves are checked before packing.
6.Packing and shipment
Export packing with batch identification, packed to the specification agreed at step 4.
Compliance: What We Can Prove, and What You Sign
If you sell into the EU, the recyclability question is now also a documentation question. The PPWR (Regulation (EU) 2025/40) has applied since 12 August 2026.
| What applies | Detail | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Recyclability grades | A (≥95%), B (≥80%), C (≥70%). Grades apply from 1 Jan 2030; from 2038 only A or B may be placed on the market | Art. 6(3), Annex II Table 3 |
| Recycled content | 10% for contact-sensitive packaging made from plastics other than PET, from 2030 (or 3 years after the implementing act, whichever is later) | Art. 7(1)(b) |
| PFAS limits | 25 ppb any single PFAS, 250 ppb sum of PFAS, 50 ppm including polymeric PFAS | Art. 5(5) |
| Heavy metals | Pb + Cd + Hg + Cr(VI) ≤ 100 mg/kg | Art. 5(4) |
| Harmonised label | Material-composition pictogram and digital identifier, from 12 Aug 2028 or 24 months after the implementing acts | Art. 12 |
What we supply to your technical file
Structure declaration, material identification code, OTR / WVTR test references, PFAS and heavy-metal test reports, GRS / RCS with transaction certificate where recycled content applies.
What we do not do
We do not sign your declaration of conformity. Under the PPWR the manufacturer placing the packaging on the market draws up and signs the DoC; we provide the input data that goes into Annex VII.
Specifications
Everything below holds for all four structures unless stated. Ask for the test reference behind any number.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Material | Mono-PE + AlOx / Mono-PE + EVOH / Mono-PE + PCR |
| Fill range | 20g to 1kg |
| Formats | Flat bottom (with or without window) · Stand up pouch · Side gusset · Flat pouch |
| MOQ | 2,000 pcs |
| Printing | HP Indigo 25K digital · rotogravure |
| Closures | Zipper · degassing valve — all available in PE |
| Finishes | Matte, gloss, soft touch, hot stamping, embossing, 3D UV, holographic |
| Sample time | 1 day (stock material) · 2–3 days (transparent) · 7–12 days (digital film) |
| Shelf life of the pack | 12–18 months under normal storage conditions |
| HS code | 39232100 |
| Factory | Mowujiiwei Industrial Road, Qishi Town, Dongguan, Guangdong, China |
| Certification | BRCGS Food Safety · ISO 22000:2018 |
Sampling and Order Logistics
We publish our sample pricing because the alternative is five emails asking what a sample costs.
| Sample option | Qty | What it proves | Fee | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Material & size sample | 1–2 pcs | Material, size, print quality | Free | 1 day |
| Transparent bag sample | 2 pcs | Size and fill capacity | Free | 2–3 days |
| Paper hand-made sample | 1 pc | Colour (~90%), size, shape | Free | 1 day |
| Digital printing film | 1 m | Digital colour (~90%) | $100 unlaminated / $200 laminated | 7–12 days |
| Digital-print handmade sample | 2 pcs | Colour, material, size (~80% of production) | $250 | 10–12 days |
| Digital-print trial run | 1-2 pcs | Full customisation | $300 / $450 / $600 (non-refundable) | 15–20 days |
| Full rotogravure trial run | 5-7 pcs | Full customisation with plates | Plate fee + $400 / $550 / $700 (non-refundable) | 25+ days |
Trusted by Coffee Brands in More Than 50 Markets
Figures as published on our own site. Ask for the certificate numbers if you need to verify them.
2011
Founded
300+
Employees
50+
Export markets
2000+
Partner stores
80%
Reorder rate
99.5%
On-time delivery
2011 — YPAK Packaging Group founded; manufacturing across Hong Kong, Dongguan and Foshan.
50+ export markets, including the US, UK, Canada, Germany, France, Poland, Netherlands, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia and the UAE.
Production at the Dongguan and Foshan facilities is managed under BRCGS Food Safety and ISO 22000:2018, with documented material control, production monitoring, inspection and batch identification for food-contact packaging.
YPAK produces packaging for many well-known brands.
Currently, many coffee brands across various markets use single-PE packaging solutions provided by YPAK. If you are looking for similar packaging options for your region, please send us a message to request the solution best suited to your specific needs.
Germany
Wildkaffee
USA
Stephen
France
Kaffirost
Spain
MERIE
FAQ
Ten questions we get asked before a first order. The awkward ones are answered honestly.
Yes. Mono-PE with AlOx or EVOH costs more than an aluminium-foil laminate today. What changes is what the bag can claim and which market it can enter. We will quote both structures side by side so you can see the actual difference for your specification rather than a percentage.
On our mono-PE + AlOx structure we measure OTR < 5 cc/m²/day and WVTR ≤ 0.5 g/m²/24hrs in our own laboratory. Ask us for the test reference for the specific structure you are considering — the numbers differ between AlOx, EVOH and PCR builds.
Yes, when specified in PE. This is the part most suppliers cannot do: a PE pouch with a PP valve is no longer single-material at the sorting stage. Confirm the closure material in your specification.
The pack has a service life of 12 to 18 months under normal storage conditions. Shelf life after filling depends on your roast, degassing and storage, so we recommend re-testing rather than assuming from your previous structure.
2,000 pieces. Digital printing can run multiple designs within one order, which is useful for origin ranges and seasonal releases.
Stock material samples are free and ship in 1 day. A transparent bag takes 2–3 days. A digital-printed film takes 7–12 days. Full pricing is on the sample policy page.
Yes. Bag-and-box kits are an existing product line, printed to the same artwork so the bag, the carton and any insert match. Useful when the retail unit is sold as a gift or subscription pack.
Yes — a PCR layer can be built into the same mono-PE structure, with GRS / RCS certification and a transaction certificate. Note that from 2030 the PPWR sets a 10% minimum for contact-sensitive non-PET packaging.
The grading criteria come from delegated acts that are still being finalised. What we can tell you now is the structure: single material, closures included, no aluminium. Whether it reaches grade A, B or C will be determined under those acts, and we will not promise a grade before the criteria exist.
A manufacturer. Flexible packaging production in Dongguan and Foshan since 2011, certified to BRCGS Food Safety and ISO 22000:2018.
Start With One Structure Review
Send us your current bag specification — or just the fill weight and the market you sell into. We will tell you which mono-material structure fits, what barrier it delivers, what the closures will be made of, and what it costs at your volume. No obligation, and no claim we cannot support with a test reference.
Sam@ypak.coffee ｜ +86-13724426789
Further Reading
Longer pieces for the parts of this decision that do not fit on one page.
PPWR Recyclability Grades for Coffee Packaging: What Survives 2030, and What Survives 2038
How the A / B / C grading works, and which structures still clear the bar in 2038
PPWR Compliance Starts with Your Packaging
Documents, labelling and the material decisions that drive them.
Coffee Packaging Solutions by Business Scale
Micro roastery, regional brand and national operation — what changes.
Custom Coffee Packaging Solutions: From Product Ideas to Market-Ready Packaging
The full run from spec to shelf-ready.
