LCA Food 2012 in Saint Malo, France! - Manifestations et colloques ...

GROUP 5, SESSION B: FOOD PRODUCTS 8 th Int. Conference on LCA in the
Agri-Food Sector, 1-4 Oct 2012
872
143. LCA of one cup of espresso coffee: how to collect and validate
LCA data along the coffee supply chain
Stefania Furfori 1,* , Cristiano Portis 1 , Alberto Cabilli 1 , Alfredo Vanni 1 , Leo Breedveld 2 , Rosalina Barrale 3
1 Lavazza SpA, 2 2B Srl, 3 Goglio Cofibox SpA, Corresponding author. E-mail: s.furfori@lavazza.it
The management of life-cycle inventory data is a complex and time-consuming task in LCA, especially due
to upstream and downstream processes outside the company’s system boundaries. The data collection is often
hampered by the complexity of these processes, a lack of involvement of supply chain stakeholders and
associated confidentiality issues. Being a key-player in the coffee supply chain Lavazza SpA, in collaboration
with one of its suppliers, has attempted to overcome these barriers as illustrated in the LCA of espresso
coffee.
The LCA of espresso coffee has been conducted in order to support Lavazza’s ecodesign activities, a main
part of the corporate social responsibility strategy and in order to create a truthful and correct environmental
communication. Espresso coffee is a rather elaborated food system with a diversified supply chain, involving
coffee plantations around the whole world (e.g. Brazil, India, Vietnam, Ethiopia), green coffee suppliers,
packaging suppliers (especially Goglio Cofibox SpA), the coffee manufacturer (Lavazza SpA), the distribution
chain, consumers and finally waste disposal management.
A crucial moment of the LCA execution has been the choice of Lavazza and Goglio Cofibox to work together,
which has proved to be a successful partnership. The handling of the complexity of the multi-layer
packaging is guaranteed by the Goglio Cofibox’s packaging experts, while Lavazza is in the position to involve
other actors in the supply chain.
The data used in the LCA comes directly from coffee manufacturers and suppliers. Energy consumption and
greenhouse gases emissions impact categories are screened using IPCC 2007 and CED assessment methods,
following the international standards ISO 14040 (2006) and ISO 14044 (2006). The results, consistent with
other studies published on coffee (Humbert et al., 2009), show that about half of the environmental footprint
occurs at a life cycle stage under the control of the coffee producer or its suppliers (coffee cultivation, treatment,
processing, packaging up to distribution) and the other half at a stage controlled by the user (appliances
manufacturing, use and waste disposal).
The success of this project depends on the company’s ability to able to increase the awareness and commitment
of the key players involved in the entire supply chain in supporting the improvement solutions. The
validation and yearly updating of LCI data is also made easier in this respect, transforming initial barriers
into mutual opportunities to understand the potential ecological footprint impact of each phase and to enhance
the environmental market position of all chain stakeholders.
References
Humbert , S., Loerincik, Y., Rossi, V., Margni, M., Jolliet, O., 2009. Life cycle assessment of spray dried
soluble coffee and comparison with alternatives (drip filter and capsule espresso). Journal of Cleaner Production
17, 1351-1358.
ISO 14040, 2006. Environmental Management – life Cycle Assessment – Principles and Guidelines. International
Organisation for Standardisation (ISO), Geneva, Switzerland.
ISO 14044, 2006. Environmental Management – life Cycle Assessment – Requirements and Guidelines.
International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO), Geneva, Switzerland.