So what is the most efficient way to reduce our ecological footprint by drinking coffee? It may be reassuring to know that packaging only contributes about 10% of coffee’s total CO2 emissions, while aluminum packaging doubles this number to 20%. Cécile explains how this value is calculated by carrying out a life cycle assessment or LCA: “A method to quantify the environmental impact of a product or service throughout its life cycle, i.e. from production to distribution, use and even waste management.”
If you want to limit your carbon footprint from coffee consumption, consider being as efficient as possible!
Crucially, the LCA shows that by far the largest contributing factor to coffee’s CO2 emissions comes from production – a whopping 60%! Aside from the resources required to grow the coffee beans, there are some secondary effects that contribute to this overwhelming majority. Runoff from the chemicals used in coffee growing ends up in local rivers, acidifying the water downstream. Furthermore, deforestation is usually necessary to make room for the coffee harvest, leading to a decline in biodiversity.
Additionally, the second largest carbon contributing factor comes from actually brewing the coffee. However, Cécile explains that it is difficult to give an exact figure on the CO2 emissions per portion of this step, as there are too many factors to take into account. These include the brewing method, the previous temperature, the origin of the beans and their exact composition, etc.
Choosing eco-friendly beans isn’t easy, but controlling your consumption is
Even though production accounts for the majority of coffee’s carbon emissions, there are still ways to try to choose coffee beans from sustainable sources. Sourcing beans from countries with low deforestation will generally have a reduced impact on the environment. Another example is choosing organic coffee beans. Coffee beans are actually the seeds of a fruit known as the coffee berry. While many beans have their pulp removed through carbon-intensive washing procedures, organic coffee beans are instead dried on terraces and the pulp is removed later.
But these methods require deciphering complex packaging labels and independent research. Tim explains that “there’s an incredible range of coffee varieties and farming methods, and also processing methods, that go into each of these (types of) coffees, so it’s actually quite difficult to identify the individual carbon footprint of any given coffee. ”. Therefore, the best way to keep your carbon footprint low is not to be wasteful! Be careful not to always brew so much excess coffee that you have to pour it down the drain and avoid instant coffee that uses more “green” (unripe) coffee beans because it needs to be processed twice.
In summary, if you want to limit your carbon footprint due to coffee consumption, consider being as efficient as possible! Coffee pods may be the right option for both convenience and volume. But don’t be fooled into thinking that eco-initiatives around coffee pods make them better for the environment than other forms of coffee.