As one of the most consumed beverages in the world, coffee culture is not indifferent to the new trends of sustainable consumption. Thanks to the influence of social networks on our everyday lives and the environmental awareness that has arisen in recent years, many sustainable products are expected.
Table of Contents
Sustainable coffee in trend
With increasing demand for sustainable products in the global coffee culture, changes in coffee production also had to be made.
In order to strive for standardization, several multinational companies have created programs and certifications that support coffee farmers throughout the production process and should offer fair prices, among many other advantages.
These certifications are seals that can be found on the coffee packaging. These seals are used to distinguish the programs used in the production of each coffee. Here are some of the certifications that are on the market:
- Fairtrade
- Organic coffee
- Rainforest Alliance
- Bird friendly
All these certifications, despite their different approaches, have one thing in common: they all aim to preserve the environment and its species. We know this topic is extremely interesting, and guess what, we already have a blog about it (What do the extra images on the coffee boxes mean?).
Eco-friendly packaging
Due to the global boom in coffee, manufacturers are considering possible solutions to the packaging problem that used to be made entirely of plastic, but over the years some more sustainable alternatives have emerged.
Coffee packaging falls into two broad categories: rigid or soft and flexible. Soft packaging is widely used in the market as it better protects the product inside the packaging and better preserves its properties over time.
In recent years, packaging has been designed and manufactured from completely environmentally friendly materials, such as.
- Rice paper
- Cornstarch
- Sugar cane
- Wood pulp
Although these materials are environmentally friendly, the packaging made from them is not completely degradable because these packaging consist of two layers of material. An environmentally friendly component is usually used for the outer layer. The inner layer of the packaging is used to insulate the coffee and is mostly made of plastic.
To solve this problem, major manufacturers are still investigating other possible materials to create fully degradable packaging. Currently some components are biodegradable and others are not.
The search for higher quality coffee
A new relationship between consumers and producers has emerged with specialty coffees (coffees of exceptional quality that strive for perfection).
Research by S&D Coffee & Tea reveals a new culture of specialty coffee consumption, particularly among young people. The young generation wants to consume brands that are in line with values.
The demand for coffee shops is increasing
Since the end of 2019, coffee consumption has increased in producing countries such as Colombia, Mexico and Brazil, and with it the demand for coffee specialties. However, this type of coffee creates conflicts with regular coffee consumers because the price level in the producing countries is miserable, but nevertheless the coffee shops have found a market that satisfies them.
Increase in demand for baristas
With the boom in coffee specialties in recent years, the number of baristas who are familiar with this coffee culture has also increased significantly. An excellent product also needs the appropriate treatment and preparation.
Other coffee trends on the rise
In addition to the trends discussed above, there are others that are seeing the light of day in a new global market.
- Ready-to-Drink Coffee (RTD): These are cans that are similar to the sodas we’ve always drunk, except that they contain ready-to-drink coffee.
- Home Grown Coffee: With the increasing interest in a sustainable product, many people have decided to do the entire process of growing and harvesting coffee at home in small pots and it is a trend worldwide.
- Coffee Subscriptions: A service that has been gaining more and more followers since the pandemic, as it consists of a monthly subscription (like Netflix) where subscribers receive one or more boxes of different specialty coffees, depending on where they subscribed to have.
- Colombian coffee around the world: Since the end of 2014, Colombia has exported all its coffee products to more than 90 countries, with the United States, Germany, France and Japan standing out. This speaks to the quality of Colombian coffee, as these countries buy 45% of all coffee produced worldwide.
Zero waste in the coffee market
The Zero Waste Movement is a campaign launched with the goal of reducing as much as possible the waste we generate. In the course of this movement, many people have made significant lifestyle changes, eliminating single-use materials.
The Zero Waste movement consists of five pillars, the aim of which is to reduce waste in order to protect and protect the environment.
- Rejecting means rejecting any products that you don’t use that go straight to the trash, such as: B. Brochures or free sample cups, so the production of these products is not so high.
- Downsizing is based on giving up some products that aren’t necessary, three face creams won’t be more effective than a single cream.
- Reuse based on the search for replacements for disposable products such as toothbrushes. Bamboo toothbrushes break down much faster than plastic ones, and both serve the same function, but one is eco-friendly and the other isn’t.
- Recycling is based on a strict order and care in handling the products that cannot be rejected, reduced or reused, allowing professionals to dispose of them correctly, separating the waste into the appropriate bags or bins.
- Reincorporate, based on reusing organic waste to produce compost for plant growth.
This movement is on the rise worldwide due to the climate change we are experiencing and many more people are expected to join this initiative in the years to come.
