At Yakima Chief Hops, we take great pride in operating our business responsibly, emphasizing a focus on long-term success and the conviction that constructing value for both local communities and the planet is every bit as crucial as shareholder value. We work tirelessly to reduce our carbon footprint, lessen dependence on natural resources, and eliminate waste while empowering our communities along the way. We recognize that industry collaboration is the pivotal force for driving meaningful change and hope to inspire others to join us in creating a sustainable future. 

Did you know that Yakima Chief Hops (YCH) aspires to ensure that all our packaging materials are reusable, compostable, or recyclable by 2025? It’s a goal that we have been making progress on over the last few years and is looking more achievable all the time. We have long struggled to find a solution for the bags used industry-wide for hop pellet packaging. After a long search for viable options to replace or recycle that material, we have found a solution to recycle the elusive hop foil bag. We are thrilled to announce we are working with TerraCycle®, the international leader in recycling hard-to-recycle waste streams,  to promote proper recycling of hop pellet bags—a collaboration that has been in full swing since January!

The recyclability of hop pellet bags has posed a significant challenge for our industry. Made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), the bags are often referred to as “foils”. Don’t let that shiny silver finish fool you! This material is constructed of a stretched plastic film, scientifically known as biaxially oriented polyethylene terephthalate (BoPET), and more commonly known as “flex film”. There is a reason that this material has been adopted industry-wide; hop pellets require a superior barrier to oxygen and moisture. Our growers put a lot of energy and time into growing world-class hop varieties. From field preparations to drying technologies, the level of effort and skill that goes into each harvest is tremendous. As the merchant arm of a grower-owned company, it is our responsibility to respect not only the work that was done by our growers but also the work that will be put in by our brewers. That is why we designed hop bags to be as durable as they are. Unfortunately, in this packaging design, the material is single-use and discarded to a landfill after its initial purpose. The ultimate goal, of course, is to find a material that is either compostable or recyclable, but still meets our standards for maintaining quality and freshness. Alternative materials do exist, but we must be highly critical of their form and function before jeopardizing the integrity of our products (and yours).  

At YCH, we're committed to reducing our environmental footprint by actively keeping waste out of landfills and incinerators. We're excited to share our progress, including this new partnership with TerraCycle, who is helping us recycle the unrecyclable (items not accepted by typical recyclers). Through this collaboration, we've ensured the proper recycling of hop pellet bags. We've been diligently collecting, storing, baling, and sending these bags to TerraCycle. So far this year, we've successfully recycled nearly 70,000 pounds of material.

We saw an opportunity to begin this program internally by managing our own waste streams first. Our packaging facilities generate a significant amount of waste from these PET pouches, making them an ideal opportunity to test this program. Optimistic that we would eventually find a solution, we have been baling and storing all discarded hop bags to prevent them from going to the landfill or incinerators. All that baled plastic is being transferred to their recycling facility where the bags will be inspected, cleaned, sorted, and then processed into something new. TerraCycle takes “unrecyclable” items and creates new things, like bike racks, park benches, and shipping pallets. Perhaps a future hop order could arrive at your brewery on a pallet made from recycled hop bags! 

Who is TerraCycle? 


TerraCycle is the world’s leader in the recycling of complex waste streams, such as cigarette butts, snack wrappers, and beauty product packaging. TerraCycle has established itself as a trailblazer in sustainable waste management solutions. Founded in 2001 by Tom Szaky, TerraCycle has been at the forefront of environmental innovation for over two decades. The company's core mission revolves around "Eliminating the Idea of Waste®" by providing recycling solutions for traditionally non-recyclable items. Through their unique approach, TerraCycle collaborates with major brands, retailers, and individuals to collect, process, and recycle these materials into new products, thus diverting waste from landfills and incinerators and contributing to a circular economy. YCH is honored to work with organizations that share a similar commitment to environmental sustainability.  

 We believe in the spirit and the practice of collaboration. We find that working together is the key to overcoming sustainability challenges. We hope to help make recycling PET bags easier and more accessible in the future and make this recycling program more accessible to breweries. In the meantime, check out TerraCycle, and think about how their programs might be integrated into your business or your home. Your involvement is not just a choice; it's a commitment to a sustainable future for our industry and beyond. Let's unite in the pursuit of a circular economy, where waste is transformed into valuable resources. By engaging in collective effort, we can significantly reduce our environmental footprint, alleviate greenhouse gas emissions, and contribute to a healthier planet. 

Cheers to a sustainable future!