Roasted coffee beans require some special packaging. Beans can go stale much quicker if not packaged to protect the product from air, moisture, and light. If beans are getting roasted, packed, and warehoused for sale, then a one-way vent valve is often included.

The quest to keep coffee fresh for weeks means its packaging often requires some single-use waste. Many of us buy our java beans in plastic bags, though compostable options have grown in popularity.

One brand that’s been using compostable bags to be more environmentally friendly is the mushroom-enhanced Peak State Coffee. But founder Danny Walsh realized that “compostable” doesn’t necessarily mean that the receiving composter can use it to create viable compost. With that in mind, Peak State trialed reusable, refillable, and recyclable aluminum coffee bean packaging instead.