Ten years ago, when customers bought drip coffee bags, they only cared about one thing: “Does it taste good?”

Today, they turned the packaging over, carefully read the fine print, and asked a new question: “What will happen to this bag after I throw it away?”

For specialty roasters and tea brands, choosing the right filter material is no longer just a supply chain decision, but a brand-building decision. At Tonchant, we receive inquiries daily about the differences between our standard nonwoven filters and our new PLA filters.

Both have their advantages in the market. But which one is more suitable for your business model? Let’s analyze it in detail—not only looking at environmental parameters, but also its impact on your production line and profits.

Competitor: PLA (corn fiber) mesh
What is it? PLA (polylactic acid) is often marketed as “corn fiber.” It is derived from renewable plant resources such as corn starch or sugarcane. When you see those silky, transparent mesh bags that look almost like high-end fabrics, that’s usually PLA.

advantage:

The “eco-friendly” halo: This is PLA’s main selling point. PLA is biodegradable and compostable under industrial conditions. If your brand image is built on sustainability, organic products, or “planet first” values, then PLA is almost indispensable.

Visual appeal: PLA mesh is typically more transparent than traditional paper/non-woven fabrics. This allows customers to clearly see the coffee grounds inside before brewing, thus suggesting the freshness and quality of the coffee.

Neutral taste: High-quality PLA is colorless and odorless, ensuring it will not interfere with your delicate floral or fruity baking flavors.

The fact is: PLA material is more expensive—typically 20-30% more expensive than standard materials. Furthermore, it is more sensitive to temperature and humidity during storage.

Standard: Traditional nonwoven fabric (PP/PET)
What is this? This is the industry’s mainstay. Most standard drip coffee and tea bags in supermarkets are made of food-grade polypropylene (PP) or PET blends.

advantage:

Cost-effectiveness: If you are targeting the mass market, convenience stores, or hotels, which have high sales volume and low profit margins, then traditional nonwoven fabrics are undoubtedly the king of cost.

Stability: These materials are extremely durable. They can withstand the powerful impacts of high-speed automated packaging machines without tearing and have a long shelf life in various climatic conditions.

Extraction control: Traditional nonwoven fabrics typically have a slightly denser structure, which helps to slow the flow rate, thus allowing for sufficient extraction during rapid pouring.

The fact is: they are plastic products. While they are safe and meet food-grade standards, they will not decompose in garden compost bins.

Production factors: Can your machine distinguish the difference?
Here’s a secret that many material suppliers won’t tell you: PLA performs differently on different machines.

Because PLA has a different melting point than PP/PET, precise temperature control is required, and ultrasonic sealing technology should ideally be used. Traditional heat-sealing strips sometimes cause PLA to melt too quickly or the seal is not strong enough.

This is precisely where Tonchant comes in as a “one-stop solution”.

If you purchase rolls from us, we will help you adjust your existing machines to handle the material.

If you use our packaging service, we will send your PLA products to our ultrasonic production line for packaging to ensure a perfect, clean seal every time.

If you purchase a machine from us, we will configure it specifically for the materials you plan to use most frequently.

Final conclusion: Which one should you choose?
Please select PLA if the following conditions are met:

You are selling high-end products (over $2 per drop bag).

Your target market is Europe, Japan, or environmentally conscious people.

You want that high-end, silky “mesh” look.

Please choose traditional nonwoven fabric if the following conditions are met:

You focus on sales volume and price competitiveness.

You supply hotels, offices, or airlines.

For demanding supply chains, you need maximum durability.

Still hesitating?
You don’t need to guess. Tonchant manufactures both types of filter media. We can send you a comparison sample kit containing both PLA and standard nonwoven filter media, allowing you to brew a comparative sample, taste the differences, and experience their textures firsthand.

Contact us now to request your material sample package.