With ways to reduce environmental footprint taking centre stage in the coffee industry, how can roasters align ecological consciousness while improving operations?
Whether it be through responsible sourcing of beans, disposal of spent pucks, or use of modern, more energy efficient roasting methods, there are countless ways for roasters to improve their environmental footprint with the beans themselves, but packaging is just as important.
With a heritage of more than 50 years in the European packaging industry and more than 30 years in Australia with offices in Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane, Jet Technologies has been helping the coffee industry improve its environmental footprint using its ShieldCycle technology and partnering with the likes of ST. ALi, Dimattina, and Inglewood Coffee Roasters.
Rather than using a non-recyclable aluminium layer within the packaging to prevent coffee oxidation, ShieldCycle uses a Polyolefin-based plastic structure designed to enable all components to be melted down and reused.
This means all layers of plastic on the bag have similar melting points to facilitate easier recycling and reuse. Traditionally, aluminium enclosed within a lamination with other plastics is not commercially viable for Australian recycling facilities to process.
General Manager of Jet Technologies, Daniel Malki, says ShieldCycle was created in response to the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation’s (APCO) targets of making 100 per cent of packaging reusable, recycling, or compostable.
“ShieldCycle is our response to this call for sustainable packaging solutions, addressing the long-standing issue of non-recyclable layers in coffee bags that contribute to landfill waste,” says Daniel.
“Our clients are looking for ways to reduce their environmental footprint without sacrificing product quality. ShieldCycle offers an excellent solution for coffee brands that want to align with APCO’s sustainability goals while maintaining the integrity and freshness of their products.”
After first installing a Goglio G21 Vertical Form Fill Seal (VFFS) machine purchased from Jet Technologies in 2020, ST. ALi doubled its capacity in 2024 with the installation of a second machine.
Specifically built for coffee, the G21 can pack 20 coffee bags per minute and can be used with Jet’s ShieldCycle bags.
Daniel praised the forward-thinking of brands like ST. ALi, Inglewood, and Dimattina for aligning themselves with a product that reduces their environmental footprint, especially in periods of such strong organisational growth.
“Beneficial to any coffee roasters producing 1.5 tonnes or more of coffee per week, the Goglio G21 machine is ideal for roasters looking to reduce labour costs and improve their productivity rates to gain a competitive edge within the market,” says Daniel.
“ST. ALi is a true leader in Australia’s specialty coffee scene. Their ability to constantly evolve and innovate is inspiring, and we’re proud to continue supporting them as they expand their operations and break new ground.
“Inglewood’s story is a great example of how the G21 helps roasters scale quickly while maintaining quality and efficiency. By investing in the right technology, they’ve been able to meet rising demand, cut costs, and create a more resilient operation that’s ready for the future.”
The installation of ST. ALi’s second G21 came as the brand was significantly increasing its retail footprint through its own website and Coles retail, alongside a booming wholesale trade.
ST. ALi Head of Operations and Sourcing Lucy Ward says the Goglio G21 alongside Jet’s ShieldCycle bags have given the roaster added flexibility moving into the future.
distributed in Australia and New Zealand by Jet Technologies. Image: Jet Technologies.
“With our second Goglio G21 VFFS machine, we’re well-equipped to meet the demands of our growing retail and wholesale channels,” she says.
“This machine allows us to increase our packaged coffee output and maintain the same exceptional quality our customers have come to expect, whether they’re picking up a bag of our coffee in Coles or ordering from our online store.
“We’ve always taken pride in being a fast-moving, adaptable company, and the past few years have proven the strength of that approach,” adds Lucy. “The expansion into Coles has been a huge milestone for us, and with the addition of the second Goglio G21, we’re ready for whatever comes next.”
Inglewood, on the other hand, has boosted its fulfilment times by 300 per cent because of installing a G21 in late 2025.
Now supplying to more than 350 cafés and 250,000 home customers around Australia, Inglewood Chief Operating Officer Cory Slater says the G21 has also enabled Inglewood to create more consistency across its operations.
“Our ecommerce platform was gaining really strong momentum, and we needed a way to deliver a high-quality product while ensuring fast fulfilment,” says Cory.
“The G21 has given us that capability almost overnight. Moving away from hand-packed bags has also elevated the way customers perceive our product, allowing us to serve more customers with greater consistency.”
For more information, visit jet-ap.com
This article appears in the February 2026 edition of BeanScene. Subscribe HERE.
