Stakeholder Attitude
Multiple stakeholders are involved in the design, manufacturing, distribution, and use of home coffee machines. The manufacturers are the designers and producers of the machines and are focused on sufficiently utilizing the limited raw materials available. Retailers buy the product before selling it to the consumers, who are the end-users. The government and regulators ensure that the production and distribution are ethical and legal. The stakeholders identified have different attitudes and perspectives on producing and using eco-friendly home coffee machines.
Consumers
Consumers play a central role in encouraging the design and production of sustainable home coffee machines. This group of stakeholders is highly interested in purchasing eco-friendly products for their economic and health benefits. Most consumers know the negative environmental and economic impacts of using single-use coffee capsules. Consequently, they positively perceive eco-friendly coffee machines, which allow them to reduce waste and save on costs. Additionally, durability and energy efficiency are associated with environmentally safe products. Therefore, consumers prioritize coffee machines that protect the environment while reducing their expenditure.
Manufacturers
The manufacturers source various raw materials and resources to design and produce home coffee machines. Although their central aim is profit-making, they are under pressure from the government and consumers, among other stakeholders, to produce eco-safe products. Consequently, they perceive sustainability as a driving force to attract more customers and remain afloat in business. Additionally, they view sustainable coffee machines as a greater way of achieving their corporate social responsibility and SDGs. The manufacturers are working to design and produce machines that are recyclable and more energy-efficient for increased purchases.
Environmentalism Activists
The activists are part of the pressure groups that insist on producing sustainable products for the current and future generations’ benefit. This group of stakeholders views eco-safe coffee machines as one approach to achieving the SDGs. Moreover, the group is working to raise awareness among consumers and manufacturers on the long-term benefits of environmentally safe products. Manufacturers make changes to their production process to attract positive reviews and avoid criticism from environmental activists.
Governments and Regulators
Although the government and regulators play an indirect role in the manufacturing of home coffee machines, they are key in legislating and regulating manufacturers and retailers. The government perceives the production of sustainable products as a means of achieving and fulfilling its obligation to protect the environment and consumers. Consequently, they are engaged in formulating policies and legislation that keep the manufacturers and other stakeholders in check. Strict regulations on environmental sustainability are critical for a safe ecosystem.
Retailers
Retailers act as intermediaries between consumers and manufacturers and are regulated by the government. Given that the retailers are in a money-making business, they adopt strategies that attract consumers and are consistent with laws and regulations. Their positive perception of sustainability has led to the stocking of more eco-friendly coffee machines. Additionally, the take-back programs for used coffee machines and capsules help in reducing waste that can be hazardous to the environment. Therefore, eco-friendly coffee machines attract positive attitudes from the multiple stakeholders involved in their production and use.
Life Cycle
The home coffee machine life cycle involves various stages, from its design to the end of use. The first stage is the extraction of raw materials and their processing before being sourced by the manufacturers. Materials such as plastic, metals, and electronic components of the product are processed during the initial phase. The second stage involves the actual manufacturing of the coffee machines. The manufacturers and other involved stakeholders, such as engineers, assemble the different components to come up with a final product. Additionally, they fabricate the metals and solder the electronic components onto the circuit boards.
The third stage of the home coffee machine life cycle is its distribution to various retailers. Modes of transportation such as road, air, and water are used to distribute the manufactured machines to different consumers and retailers. During this phase, manufacturers can either distribute on their own or hire third-party companies for the same purpose. In some cases, the retailers pick the product by themselves from the manufacturers’ location.
The fourth stage of the product life cycle involves use by the consumers. The usage of machines can include making coffee and associated activities such as cleaning it. Moreover, disposal of the used capsules and filters takes place during this phase. The last stage is the disposal of the coffee machine and its components. In some cases, the defective product can be returned to the retailers or manufacturers for recycling activities. The different phases of a home coffee machine’s life cycle impact the environment.
Table 1 – Sustainability Impact.
Main Sustainability Issues
Main Issues
Depletion of natural resources, consumption of energy, and waste generation are the major sustainability issues associated with the production and use of home coffee machines. The product is made from metals and other valuable natural resources. Continuous mining negatively impacts the environment since it involves the destruction of natural habitats for plants and animals. Additionally, the process is associated with the use of harmful extraction chemicals that harm the soil, water, and air.
Energy consumption is throughout the life cycle of the home coffee machine. Electricity is needed during the extraction of raw materials and assembling of the different components. Moreover, the vehicles that are distributed require energy to transport the machines to the consumers. Waste generation is another sustainability issue associated with home coffee machines. Industrial wastes generated during the extraction of raw materials and assembling are harmful to the environment. Therefore, there is a need to address the negative environmental impacts associated with the machine.
Industry Attempts
The coffee industry has adopted various strategies to counter the negative environmental impact of the machines. Manufacturers are adopting a circular economy where they use recyclable components of their products. The action helps reduce raw materials waste, saving natural habitats for plants and animals.
Moreover, the filters and coffee capsules are designed in a manner that they can be re-used to eliminate excess waste generation. Furthermore, there is the implementation of take-back programs that allow consumers to return defective and used coffee machines, reducing the waste that goes to landfills. Effective sustainability strategies promote a safe environment for using the machines.
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