Medidas sustentáveis no mercado de café em dose única

Abstract

Coffee is one of the most consumed beverages in the world. Since the 19th century, technological innovations have boosted coffee consumption. The single cup coffee machines are one of these innovations. However, this technology causes damage to the environment due to the materials used in the coffee pods manufacture, an issue that worries activists, politicians and consumers. Given this scenario, the present article analyzes the sustainable innovations that the coffee industry has developed to deal with the problem. For this, the strategies of seven brands of single cup coffee were analyzed qualitatively. The results showed that leading companies in the sector opted for recycling strategies for used coffee pods. On the other hand, only two brands have comprehensive recycling strategies. The main weaknesses of recycling are logistics and dependence on consumer initiative. Another solution, found by smaller brands, is the use of compostable materials in single cups manufacture. In this case, there are also limitations, such as the need for a composting plant.