FAQ's
Roasted coffee beans are highly sensitive to oxygen. Once roasted and cooled to room temperature, coffee must be packed immediately in packaging that provides a strong oxygen barrier. Exposure to oxygen degrades the freshness, aroma, boldness, and colour of coffee rapidly, shortening its shelf life significantly.
The best packaging for roasted coffee is a laminated flexible pouch constructed with high- barrier materials such as metalized film, aluminium foil, or EVOH (Ethylene Vinyl Alcohol). These materials prevent oxygen and moisture from entering the pouch, keeping the coffee fresh, aromatic, and full of flavour for an extended period. Swiss Pac offers a full range of high-barrier coffee pouches in various formats including stand-up pouches, flat-bottom pouches, side-gusset bags, and quad-seal bags — all available with custom printing and sustainable material options.
Yes — a degassing valve is essential for roasted coffee packaging. After roasting, coffee beans release carbon dioxide gas continuously for approximately 20 days. If this gas is trapped inside a sealed pouch with no way to escape, it will cause the bag to expand and potentially burst.
A one-way degassing valve solves this by allowing carbon dioxide to exit the bag while preventing outside air from entering. This is critical because oxygen is the primary enemy of roasted coffee — even a small amount entering the bag will cause oxidation, destroying the aroma, flavour, and shelf life of the product. Swiss Pac supplies coffee pouches fitted with high-quality one-way degassing valves as a standard option across all coffee packaging formats.
The three most effective materials for blocking oxygen and moisture in coffee packaging are aluminium foil, metalized polyester (metalized PET), and EVOH (Ethylene Vinyl Alcohol). Each of these materials provides an exceptional barrier against oxygen transmission and moisture ingress, protecting the coffee from the two main factors that cause it to go stale.
These materials are typically used as layers within a laminated film structure, combining barrier performance with printability, strength, and heat-sealability. Swiss Pac uses these industry-leading barrier materials across its full range of coffee packaging solutions to ensure maximum freshness and shelf life.
When the correct barrier materials are selected, the shelf life of coffee in a stand-up pouch is equivalent to that of a tin. A tin provides barrier protection through its thick metal walls, typically 500 to 800 microns. A stand-up pouch made with aluminium foil or metalized polyester film — although considerably thinner — delivers the same effective barrier against oxygen and moisture.
The key is material selection. A correctly specified flexible coffee pouch from Swiss Pac will match or exceed the shelf life performance of a tin, while offering significant advantages in weight, cost, branding flexibility, and sustainability.
A one-way degassing valve allows carbon dioxide gas produced by freshly roasted coffee to escape from the bag while forming a seal that prevents outside air from entering. This is the correct valve for roasted coffee packaging and is the industry standard.
A two-way valve allows air to flow in both directions — meaning oxygen from outside can enter the bag. This causes the coffee to oxidise much faster, significantly reducing its aroma, flavour, and shelf life. For roasted coffee, always specify a one-way degassing valve. Swiss Pac fits all coffee pouches with certified one-way valves to ensure product integrity throughout the supply chain.
Both aluminium foil and kraft paper are valid choices for roasted coffee packaging, but each requires specific construction to perform correctly.
Aluminium foil pouches provide an excellent oxygen and moisture barrier straight from the structure, making them the most reliable choice for maximum shelf life. Kraft paper pouches offer a premium, natural aesthetic that appeals strongly to specialty coffee consumers and eco-conscious brands — but they must include an inner barrier layer such as a thin aluminium foil lining or a PE sealant layer to protect the coffee from oxygen and moisture.
In several European countries, kraft paper packaging qualifies as recyclable provided the paper constitutes more than 60% of the total packaging weight and all other layers remain below 40%. This makes kraft paper with a thin inner barrier an ideal choice for brands seeking premium shelf appeal with genuine recyclability credentials. Swiss Pac produces both formats with full custom printing and sustainable material options.
Yes. Swiss Pac offers fully recyclable monomaterial coffee pouches that provide strong barrier performance without compromising on sustainability. Even when an EVOH barrier layer is incorporated for oxygen protection, the packaging retains its recyclable classification as long as the EVOH content remains below 5% of the total packaging weight.
This means coffee brands can achieve excellent freshness and shelf life performance alongside a credible, certifiable sustainability proposition — making recyclable monomaterial pouches one of the most practical eco-friendly packaging choices available for roasted coffee today.
Compostable coffee packaging is made from cornstarch-based materials, which are entirely plant-derived and biodegradable. These materials function as the sealant layer within the packaging structure and will break down under industrial composting conditions.
However, it is important to understand that compostable materials do not provide a high oxygen barrier — and roasted coffee requires a strong oxygen barrier to maintain its freshness. As a result, compostable packaging is not recommended for coffee products where shelf life and flavour preservation are a priority, as the coffee will oxidise faster and quality will deteriorate more quickly than with conventional barrier packaging. Swiss Pac recommends compostable packaging for coffee only in contexts where very short shelf life is acceptable or where composting infrastructure is confirmed.
Yes — kraft paper coffee bags are genuinely eco-friendly and can qualify as recyclable, provided they meet a specific material composition requirement. The paper layer must constitute at least 60% of the total packaging weight, while all other layers — including any barrier films, foil laminations, or sealants — must collectively account for no more than 40%.
When this ratio is achieved, the packaging is classified as recyclable under guidelines in several European countries, making it a practical and credible sustainable packaging solution. Swiss Pac manufactures kraft paper coffee pouches to this specification, giving brands the ability to combine a premium natural aesthetic with genuine recyclability — without sacrificing the barrier performance that roasted coffee demands.
Tea is a natural, plant-based product that is exceptionally sensitive to external aromas and fragrances. Whether a blend contains flowers, bark, fruit, or spices, tea will readily absorb odours from surrounding products and environments — fundamentally altering its flavour profile and character. This makes aroma retention one of the most critical performance requirements in tea packaging.
Shelf life is equally important, as tea may sit in warehouses and on retail shelves for extended periods. A minimum shelf life of 6 to 12 months should always be targeted. The most effective materials for preserving loose leaf tea freshness are metalized polyester film, which provides strong aroma, moisture, and light barrier performance, and kraft paper pouches constructed to the 60/40 rule — where paper accounts for at least 60% of total packaging weight — which deliver both barrier performance and recyclability credentials. Swiss Pac offers both options across a wide range of tea pouch formats with full custom printing.
Tea is vulnerable to three key environmental threats — moisture, light, and odour — and the packaging structure must address all three effectively.
To protect against moisture, high-performance laminate films such as PE (polyethylene) or metalized film provide a strong moisture barrier, preventing the tea from absorbing humidity that causes clumping, mould, and flavour degradation.
To protect against light, which breaks down the natural compounds in tea and shortens shelf life, packaging materials such as white PE film, metalized film, or opaque coloured films are used. These block light from penetrating the pouch and degrading the product inside.
To protect against odour transfer, materials such as metalized PET, EVOH, and BOPA (biaxially oriented nylon) films provide an effective aroma barrier in both directions — locking the tea's natural fragrance inside while preventing external odours from entering. Swiss Pac incorporates these materials across its tea packaging range to deliver comprehensive protection against all three threats.
Yes — a barrier layer is essential in tea packaging. Tea contains delicate volatile compounds and aromatic oils derived from flowers, leaves, bark, and spices. These natural fragrances must be locked inside the pouch after sealing to preserve the tea's taste and aroma throughout its entire shelf life.
Without a barrier layer, aromatic oils escape through the packaging film and external odours can penetrate inward — both of which significantly reduce quality by the time the product reaches the consumer. The most effective barrier materials for tea packaging include metalized polyester (PET), EVOH, nylon, and PE. Swiss Pac uses these materials in laminated film structures that provide comprehensive, multi-layer protection tailored to the specific requirements of each tea product.
When packed in a correctly specified pouch with appropriate barrier materials, loose leaf tea — including blended teas, spiced teas, herbal teas, and flavoured teas — can stay fresh for between 6 and 12 months. The actual shelf life achieved depends on the barrier materials used in the packaging structure.
Higher-performance materials such as metalized polyester or EVOH laminates support shelf lives of up to 12 months, making them ideal for export, retail, and large-volume distribution. Standard barrier constructions typically deliver around 6 months of freshness. Swiss Pac works with each customer to specify the right material for their product, target market, and shelf life requirements.
There are four main printing technologies used in flexible packaging, each with distinct processes, advantages, and ideal applications.
Digital printing is the most innovative and fastest-growing technology in flexible packaging today. It requires no plates, cylinders, or moulds — the design is printed directly from the print head onto the packaging surface. This makes it exceptionally fast to set up, ideal for short runs, and capable of producing multiple different designs in a single production run without any tooling changes or additional costs.
Flexographic printing (Flexo) uses flexible polymer printing plates mounted onto rotating cylinders. The most advanced form is CI Flexo (Central Impression Flexo), where multiple colour stations are mounted around a single large central drum. Ink is transferred from the ink tray to an anilox roll, which then transfers it to the plate, and the plate applies it directly to the film surface. CI Flexo supports up to 10 colours and can print both sides of the film in a single pass using a turn-bar system, making it highly efficient for medium to high volume runs.
Rotogravure printing is one of the highest quality printing technologies available for flexible packaging. It uses a metal cylinder engraved with the design using a laser, coated with copper and then chrome-plated for durability. The cylinder is mounted in the printing machine, dipped in ink, and the engraved cells transfer ink directly onto the packaging film. After printing, the film passes through a curing chamber where the inks are heat-dried. Rotogravure delivers exceptional colour accuracy, consistency, and print quality — making it the preferred choice for premium brands and high-volume production.
Screen printing is the oldest of the four technologies. It uses a mesh fabric screen — finer mesh for lighter ink density, coarser mesh for heavier ink transfer — through which ink is forced onto the packaging surface using a squeegee. Screen printing is a largely manual process, best suited for specific specialty applications rather than high-speed flexible packaging production.
Choosing the right printing technology depends on several factors specific to your product and business needs — including the type and style of pouch required, the print finish and effects desired, the materials being used, the quantity ordered, and the product being packaged.
The best way to determine the right technology for your order is to speak directly with the Swiss Pac sales team. Our specialists will ask the right questions about your packaging requirements and recommend the most suitable and cost-effective printing technology for your specific needs. Contact us today for a free consultation.
Yes — digital printing is approximately 30% more expensive per unit than traditional printing methods such as flexo or rotogravure. However, this cost difference is offset by significant advantages for short-run and startup orders. Digital printing requires no plate costs, no cylinder costs, and no tooling setup fees, meaning the total cost for small quantities is often considerably lower than traditional methods once setup costs are factored in.
The recommended approach for growing brands is to begin with digital printing to test designs, colours, and market response — then transition to flexo or rotogravure printing at scale to reduce per-unit costs significantly as volumes increase.
Yes — this is one of the most valuable advantages of digital printing for flexible packaging. Because digital printing requires no plates or cylinders, multiple different designs, flavour variants, sizes, or SKUs can be printed in a single production run with no additional tooling costs or setup time between designs.
This makes digital printing the ideal choice for brands with multiple product variants, limited edition packaging, personalised designs, or those launching several SKUs simultaneously. Once initial designs are confirmed and volumes grow, brands can transition to traditional printing technologies to achieve greater cost efficiency at scale.