Neumann Kaffee Gruppe and GrainPro are now offering European coffee roasters a new recycling option. Effective immediately, roasters can ship or deliver their used hermetic liners (GrainPro bags, as well as other brands) to NKG Kala Hamburg. Excitingly, transafeliners are also included in this effort!
This initiative is inspired by the success of the U.S. program developed by Neumann Gruppe USA, GrainPro and Continental Terminals. While in the U.S. hermetic bags are not recyclable through traditional plastic, and even plastic bag, recyclers, in Europe, roasters do have the opportunity to recycle their bags through Germany’s yellow bin system. However, the yellow bin system recycles some but not all of the plastic submitted. This program will ensure that all clean bags are fully recycled.
“Our collaboration with GrainPro reinforces NKG’s mission to build a sustainable future for coffee,” said Dr. Julius Wenzig, Environment and Climate Change Manager at Neumann Gruppe. “By providing roasters with an accessible recycling option, we are making tangible progress in reducing waste and carbon emissions within our industry.”
Founded in 1956, NKG Kala Hamburg is a state-of-the-art service provider in Hamburg specializing in the storage, processing and delivery of green coffee beans. To participate, European roasters simply fill out this form to alert GrainPro and NKG Kala about the number of bags they’ll be sending. The form offers clear instructions as well as answers to frequently asked questions.
The process is very similar for U.S. roasters, who can fill out this form and elect to ship or drop off bags to the Continental Terminals locations in Alameda, CA, or Keasbey, NJ. (CTI customers can also give the bags to drivers during a delivery, if they’ve filled out the form.)
Our congratulations to our colleagues in Europe for growing this impactful program — and our thanks to all who participate! •
