We’re delighted to share that a quiet but meaningful new chapter in the Higgins journey has arrived. After many months of careful work behind the scenes, our new packaging is now here, familiar at a glance, yet thoughtfully improved in ways that matter.
You may notice the bags stand a little taller now, with a firmer, more confident presence on the shelf. They feel robust in the way truly good things should: practical, well-made, and thoughtfully designed to serve their purpose.
Just as importantly, each bag now carries our updated Royal Warrant, granted by His Majesty The King. We display it with pride, but also with gratitude. Such an honour is not merely a mark; it is a continuing promise to uphold standards that have guided us for generations, standards not only of taste and craft, but of responsibility and care.
Now Domestic Recyclable
While we care about every detail, the texture, the shape, the way the bag sits in your kitchen and on our shelves, this change was driven by one purpose above all others: our new coffee bags are fully recyclable at home.
Our previous bags were recyclable, but only at specific collection points, which meant a separate journey to dedicated sites. However, these new bags remove that difficulty as they are designed for household recycling, the normal way. We wanted sustainability that works not only in principle, that’s easy to do, not merely good in principle.
To achieve this, we chose the MaxEco recyclable construction from Maxilla – a robust, high-barrier material chosen for two equally important reasons. First, it protects the coffee exactly as it should, guarding against oxygen and moisture so the character of the roast stays true. Second, once its work is done, it can return neatly into domestic recycling with no special journey required. To recycle: simply remove the coffee label, then place the bag in household plastic recycling. Our view is that this route gives the best chance of being acted upon.
Sustainability has become central to the way we think about the future of Higgins. We wanted packaging that could do its duty with elegance, then return gently to the world rather than linger as waste. It’s a practical improvement, yes, but also a reflection of something deeper, our commitment to reduce waste and to support values that align with His Majesty’s own.
Why Recyclable Rather Than Compostable?
When we began this work, we looked carefully at compostable materials. They are often presented as the greenest option, and it mattered to us to explore them properly, not dismiss them by assumption. Yet the more closely we examined compostables, the clearer their limitations became, especially for coffee.
Compostable packaging tends to fall into two categories:
1. Industrially compostable
These materials need to be sent to a proper industrial composting facility. Most kerbside collections do not support this, and without that route in place, the packaging is unlikely to be composted at all.
2. Home compostable
This requires a working compost set-up at home — something many households simply don’t have, or don’t use regularly. The honest reality is that even well-intentioned home-compostables often end up in the bin.
Both options ask the customer to take an extra step that everyday life does not always allow. And with coffee, there is another consideration too: it must be kept fresh. Compostable films too often asked for compromises in barrier protection that we were not willing to make. Freshness must never be the price of sustainability.
Recyclable packaging, in contrast, offered the best balance of environmental benefit, customer practically and uncompromised coffee quality. We chose it because it is genuinely more likely to be disposed of correctly, and because it keeps your coffee exactly as it should be.
The Coffee Inside Has Not Changed
What matters most, of course, is what’s inside. Your coffee remains exactly as it should be: freshly roasted, carefully packed, and sealed with a one-way valve to protect its character from roast to cup. The aroma, the clarity, the comforting depth, none of that has changed.
The bag may be new, but the craft is the same craft we have always practised: patient, attentive, and quietly exacting.
A Note from Our Creative Director
As part of the refresh, our Creative Director, Ann Louise Roswald, has been guiding the look and feel of this update with the sort of care that honours both past and present. In her own words:
“I love working with H.R.Higgins. The Higgins family has always been receptive to embracing the modern and the new, and they’re probably one of my easiest clients because of their enthusiasm. When the company was awarded the King’s Warrant, we needed to update all our coffee packaging. Finding a solution that was both sustainable and aesthetically in keeping with the brand was a real challenge. We initially saw it as an opportunity to create something completely new, but we quickly realised that the classic Higgins bag is timeless. We explored many options, but most sustainable materials have a matte finish that felt a little too modern for the brand. One thing, however, was certain: the bag needed to stand up. With the coffees now stocked in places like Selfridges and a growing wholesale offering, having packaging that can be merchandised properly was essential. Even when I’m styling shoots, a bag that stands on its own makes such a difference. After testing numerous ideas, we eventually came full circle — back to our traditional design, but with the new warrant, an improved shape, and, most importantly, packaging our customers can put into domestic recycling.”
As ever with sustainability, it requires everyone at each step to do their bit. This material protects the coffee’s quality and freshness while providing a more responsible end to the packaging’s life, but it relies on the consumer to dispose of it appropriately. We hope you enjoy the new bags, and as always, thank you for drinking coffee with us. The appearance may be gently refined, but the intention is lasting: to honour what Higgins has always been, while making responsible choices for what comes next.
