All PC and no name whole bean and ground coffee products are transitioning to new innovative packaging.
Drinking coffee is a beloved ritual for people around the world, dating back to the 15th century. For some, it’s a little shot of energy in the palm of their hand as they make their way into the office. For others, it’s an excuse to spend precious time around the kitchen table with loved ones before starting the day. Regardless of why people sip, 73 per cent of Canadians enjoy coffee products daily, whether it’s a simple black coffee or a frothy, elaborate latte.
As with many daily habits, coffee drinking has a significant environmental footprint. From takeout cups to plastic pods and at-home containers that include non-recyclable material, Canadian coffee drinkers often send a lot of packaging to landfills across the country. According to a recent survey commissioned by the PC® team, 56 per cent of Canadian coffee drinkers would like to have more sustainable options, with many saying they find it inconvenient to track down sustainable options for at-home use.
Loblaw is making the tradition of home-brewing coffee a greener one. By the end of this year, all PC and no name® whole bean and ground coffee products will be available in new, sustainable packaging — the first of its kind in Canada.
“Leading the way towards a more sustainable future requires innovation,” says Mary MacIsaac, Senior Vice President, Loblaw Brands at Loblaw Companies Limited. “While the PC brand is known for bringing the newest flavours and food trends to Canadians, we are also developing new award-winning sustainable packaging for our products. Our team is on a mission to develop solutions to help reduce the amount of plastic waste in our landfills, it’s an issue that’s important to both us and our customers.”
Our team is on a mission to develop solutions to help reduce the amount of plastic waste in our landfills, it’s an issue that is important to both us and our customers.
The new packaging innovation, created through a collaboration with beverage solutions company Club Coffee, uses AromaPak with Boardio technology. The finished product is a coffee package made of firm paper, at least 80 per cent of which comes from renewable and sustainable Forest Stewardship Council-sourced tree fibres. This innovation has earned PC the Best in Class award at the 2022 Global Packaging Awards for Package Innovation and Sustainable Design.
For food industry leaders looking to make better products available to their eco-conscious customer base, MacIsaac says the recipe for success is strong strategic partnerships with like-minded disruptors.
“Making a difference requires partners who share the same passion and drive that we do,” says MacIsaac. “Several years ago, we began a partnership with Club Coffee, and by working together, we’re taking steps to make a big impact when it comes to reducing plastic packaging waste going to our landfills.”
As a leading retailer of at-home coffee, Loblaw’s new packaging has the potential to offset hundreds of metric tons of waste per year. In addition to diverting plastic from landfills, this new packaging also helps reduce carbon emissions compared to other coffee containers.
This initiative is a step toward Loblaw having all PC and no name plastic product packaging in fully reusable or recyclable materials by 2025.
“We are determined to be part of the solution, and we know that the impact of plastics overuse is a growing concern for our business and customers,” MacIsaac says. “As one of Canada’s most trusted brands, we have the responsibility to tackle challenging issues and drive meaningful change, and we think our customers are ready to take this sustainability journey with us.”
This story was created by Content Works, Postmedia’s commercial content division, on behalf of President’s Choice.
