PureLock & Ecotact – A complete comparison

When it comes to packaging for green coffee, there are two popular manufacturers to choose from: PureLock and Ecotact. The packaging you choose needs to preserve the quality of your green coffee, protecting it from factors like moisture and pests that can impact its quality once roasted.

Two popular green coffee packaging suppliers are Ecotact and PureLock from MTPak Coffee. Both ship hermetic green coffee bags to producers and exporters worldwide – but which one is best suited for you?

In this article, we’ll compare PureLock and Ecotact, looking at key metrics like minimum order quantities (MOQs), the products they offer, and sustainability. Then, you can choose the best green coffee packaging supplier for you.

PureLock & Ecotact – An overview

Firstly, it’s useful to know more about PureLock and Ecotact.

PureLock is a sub-brand of MTPak Coffee, a global coffee packaging manufacturer serving roasters worldwide. The company is based in Shanghai, China, with local representatives in Europe, North America, and the Middle East.

Alongside green coffee packaging, MTPak Coffee also manufactures packaging for roasted coffee. This includes coffee bags, boxes, jars, tin cans, and coffee cups. It also commits to supporting coffee roasters through grants, competitions, and coverage on its Education Centre publication.

Ecotact is an Indian company with production facilities in Ahmedabad and New Delhi, and offices in Kolkata and Bangalore. Alongside green coffee packaging, it also offers roasted coffee bags, liners for shipping containers, and flexible intermediate bulk container (FIBC) bags for transporting green coffee.

While both are leading green coffee packaging suppliers, there are some key differences between PureLock and Ecotact to consider.

PureLock & Ecotact – Products and materials

The main product offered by both PureLock and Ecotact is hermetic green coffee bags. These are high-barrier, protective plastic bags used to store green coffee after processing and drying.

PureLock’s hermetic bags are made from multiple layers of polyethylene (PE). This is a high-barrier flexible plastic that is waterproof and resistant to moisture and oxygen ingress when sealed properly. Ecotact also offers hermetic storage bags, made from multi-layer plastic structures (often marketed as nine layers), including PE. Both companies also offer the two main sealing methods for hermetic bags: cable ties and heat sealing.

However, the main difference between PureLock and Ecotact is the other products they offer. PureLock also offers jute sacks to physically protect green coffee, sample bags for shipping new lots to roasters, and cardboard boxes to ship microlots. This gives producers and exporters all of the packaging they need to prepare green coffee for shipment to importers and roasters.

Ecotact offers similar products that protect green coffee. For instance, its Farmer D’lite bags are made from thicker layers of high-barrier plastics, meaning you don’t need to use a jute bag to carry them. It also offers polypropylene (PP) sacks with handles to transport hermetic bags, sample bags for green coffee, and vacuum bags.

Similarly, both companies offer packaging for roasted coffee. PureLock’s association with MTPak Coffee means they provide flexible pouches, tubes, tins, and drip bags for roasted coffee. Meanwhile, Ecotact also markets its hermetic bags for roasted coffee during transport, as well as a new Pour Lock range of bags. The sides of the bags are curved to make it easier to pour out green or roasted coffee for sampling.

One key distinction between PureLock and Ecotact is the level of customisation available. PureLock’s hermetic and jute bags are available in custom or stock designs, meaning you can add your farm or exporter name to create closer bonds to importers and roasters.

Ecotact offers customisation for some, but not all, of its products. These include its Supergreen kraft paper bags, Penta Pak hermetic bags, sample bags, vacuum bags, FIBC liners, and Biome trays for cupping.

Above all else, both companies promise secure, long-term storage for green coffee. PureLock bags preserve the moisture stability and overall quality of green coffee for more than one year if packed and sealed properly. Ecotact packaging also maintains freshness for more than one year under appropriate conditions.

Hermetic bags from both companies can be reused several times, as well. PureLock’s bags can be reused up to three times under the correct conditions. Ecotact doesn’t provide a specific number of uses, but lists that its bags can be used for up to five years from the date of manufacture.

PureLock & Ecotact – Lead times

Another consideration for producers and exporters is the lead time before it arrives. This can be especially important around the time of harvest, when you need to efficiently pack your coffee for shipment.

PureLock offers a lead time of ten days for its green coffee packaging, taking into account the packaging going through customs. Ecotact’s orders are shipped within one to two weeks after order confirmation, with delivery then taking around one week after shipping.

Another factor to consider is the minimum order quantity that both companies offer. This can help smaller producers order the right amount of packaging without extending their budget or ordering excess bags that take up storage space.

While PureLock does not publicly list MOQs for green coffee packaging, MTPak Coffee is known for low MOQs across its portfolio, and similar flexibility is available depending on product and region. For instance, its plain stock bags have an MOQ of 500 units, while its digitally printed bags have an MOQ of 2,000 units. On the other hand, the MOQ for Ecotact’s standard hermetic bags is 20,000 units.

Therefore, PureLock offers a shorter lead time and generally lower MOQs than Ecotact, making it ideal for smaller, more time-sensitive orders. However, shipping times and MOQs vary by region, order size, and product requirements.

PureLock & Ecotact – Sustainability

Both companies also pride themselves on sustainability, offering eco-friendly, reusable, and recyclable packaging for green coffee. While you can reuse packaging from both companies for several years,  the recycling process for each is slightly different.

PureLock’s hermetic liners are made from fully recyclable low-density polyethylene with the resin code #4. This means they are accepted at specialised soft plastic recycling points. You’ll need to verify where these facilities are in your local area, since availability differs between regions.

Ecotact’s plastic bags are also recyclable, though the code varies by product. The recycling identification code “depends on the material composition of the product and generally ranges from Resin Code 4 to Code 7”. Kerbside schemes rarely accept products at the Code 7 end. Ecotact addresses this with TerraCycle boxes, which you fill with used and cleaned Ecotact bags to ship back to them for recycling. It’s a slightly more complicated process, but it ensures the packaging is recycled properly.

Therefore, both PureLock and Ecotact provide recycling services for their packaging. You’ll need to assess both methods – from PureLock’s soft recycling collection points to Ecotact’s TerraCycle scheme – to determine which is suited to your local area.

PureLock & Ecotact – Verdict

In conclusion, both PureLock and Ecotact are suitable choices for coffee producers and exporters looking for high-quality green coffee packaging. Both pride themselves on their environmental responsibility and eco-friendly disposal methods, supporting producers as the coffee industry shifts further towards sustainable practices.

However, factors like its generally lower MOQs, faster lead time, and simpler recycling process make PureLock an ideal choice.

PureLock’s products are suitable for producers of all sizes because they are fully customisable, made from durable materials, and suitable for multiple uses. Ecotact has thicker standalone bags and slightly longer durability claims, which can also be beneficial for producers.

PureLock is committed to offering low-impact, durable packaging for green coffee. From our recyclable liners to fully reusable custom jute bags, you can choose packaging that keeps your green coffee secure and preserves its quality before it arrives with roasters.

Contact the PureLock team to learn more about our range of packaging for green coffee.

Specifications, MOQs, materials, and lead times may vary by product, region, and order size. Information is based on publicly available data and supplier communications at the time of writing.