Completing the Circle: How to Compost Your CoffeeSock
It’s going to happen eventually—sometime around brew number 350, your CoffeeSock will make its final cup.
Before you reach for that fresh new filter, there’s one more step to complete the low-waste lifecycle of your filter: It’s time to compost.
How you go about composting will depend on your personal setup. This short guide will walk you through it.
From thread to fabric: The whole thing is compostable!
CoffeeSock filters and thread are made from GOTS certified organic cotton (learn about GOTS here), which means they're free from pesticides and chemicals. This not only brews a clean cup of coffee, but it also means you can return the materials to the earth when its coffee-filtering days are over.
While paper is technically compostable too, most paper filters are processed with chemicals and made from nonorganic substances which leach into the compost as they break down. With CoffeeSock, you can toss it in the trash, where it will break down over time, or you can take a couple of extra steps to add it to your city’s compost bins or to your home composting system.
When your Sock has brewed its last, here’s the best way to compost it.
How to compost your CoffeeSock
The key to composting the Sock is to snip it into smaller pieces. This will help it break down faster, which is especially handy if you’re adding it to your own garden compost heap.
Give your used Sock one last good rinse and thank it for its service!
If your filter has a metal ring closure, snip the cotton around to remove the ring.
Cut your filter into 1 inch pieces to speed up decomposition.
Add it to your compost bin or pile.
Mix it with the other organic materials, including the used coffee grounds.
FAQ: Your Questions Answered
Q: Can I add CoffeeSock to my home composting system?
Absolutely! CoffeeSocks are perfectly safe for home composting systems. Whether you have a backyard bin, a worm composting setup, or even a small countertop composter, your CoffeeSock will fit right in.
Q: How long does it take for a CoffeeSock to break down fully?
In a well-maintained compost environment, your CoffeeSock should break down in a couple of month, right alongside your other compostable materials. Ths is where those 1 inch pieces come in! Cutting the Sock allows it break down faster. And, of course, you’ll want to follow all the best composting practices for whatever system you’re using, keeping the moisture levels on target and turning the compost regularly.
Q: What about the packaging?
CoffeeSock packaging is made from recycled paper. We recommend you recycle it!
Q: Is CoffeeSock “zero waste”
Very few products are truly zero waste—meaning that nothing goes to waste from the time the cotton is planted, through manufacturing and shipping, and through the entire product lifecycle. That said, we are committed to a product that is as waste free as possible, with no harmful chemicals, no plastic, organic and recyclable materials throughout the process. We even use our fabric scraps in special projects and compost it when we have extras.
Our mission and out motto is: A World With Less Trach! And we mean it.
Completing the circle
Every step we take towards a world with less trash, less plastic, less waste and fewer toxic chemicals is a step closer to a more circular, regenrative system. It’s a step closer to the way nature has evolved to work and honors our place in the larger landscape of natural beings.
Thanks for joining us on this journey as part of the CoffeeSock family!