
Coffee processing encompasses the conversion of coffee cherries into marketable products, including the removal of outer layers to produce green coffee and, in extended chains, their roasting into roasted coffee, and grinding into ground coffee. Calculating the carbon footprint (CF) in coffee processing is crucial for identifying and mitigating key sources of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Utilizing the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology, the current study quantifies the CF associated with Robusta dry coffee processing by collecting primary data through interviews with coffee producers and visits to coffee processing units, roasting, and grinding facilities in Wayanad, India. The study identifies GHG emission hotspots across two scenarios. Scenario A includes transportation of dried coffee beans from farm to coffee processing unit, green coffee production, packaging, roasting, and grinding at a local unit, while Scenario B covers local transportation of green coffee beans from India to The Netherlands, green coffee production, packaging, and its transportation from India to The Netherlands. Cultivation and harvesting of coffee cherries, consumer-level preparation and use, and disposal of coffee products are outside the scope of this study. The functional unit is defined as 1 kg of green coffee for both scenarios. Findings show that the CF equals 0.62 and 0.38 kg CO2eq per kg of green coffee for scenarios A and B, respectively. Roasting (78 % of CF), and sea transportation (66 % of CF) emerged as the main hotspots of GHG emissions for scenario A, and scenario B, respectively.
LCA, Agriculture (General), Ground coffee, TJ807-830, Roasted coffee, Carbon footprint, Robusta coffee, Green coffee, Renewable energy sources, S1-972
LCA, Agriculture (General), Ground coffee, TJ807-830, Roasted coffee, Carbon footprint, Robusta coffee, Green coffee, Renewable energy sources, S1-972
| selected citations These citations are derived from selected sources. This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | 1 | |
| popularity This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network. | Average | |
| influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | Average | |
| impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network. | Average |
