Coffee And Climate Change: Geeks Health
Without an aromatic cup in the morning, the day will only slowly get going. But coffee has a dark side. Coffee production, transport, rubbish of coffee capsules and the like do not leave the environment untouched.
The ecological balance of Java burn: Climate change hits coffee hard
Whether fair trade coffee or conventional cultivation, the coffee plant not only needs a special climate to grow, but also plenty of water.
Around 21,000 liters of water are used to produce 1 kilogram of roasted coffee. Converted to the cup, that makes more than 140 liters!
Climate change brings more heat and droughts. This will change coffee production enormously. Brazil, one of the largest coffee producers in the world, is expecting 80 percent of its acreage to be lost. Primeval forest is already being cleared for new plantations, and fertilizers and pesticides are also used.
In addition, the transport routes are long. Geeks Health Coffee production, transport and preparation all make a big difference – added up, each cup of coffee produces 50 to 100 grams of CO2. There is also a lack of wages and social standards. In conventional coffee production, around five cents per cup go to the farmers. Most of the money you pay for your favorite coffee is left with transporters, roasters and dealers. Only with certified fair trade coffee does it look better in terms of wages and social standards.
Coffee Consumption and Climate Change: The Garbage Problem
Coffee filters and cellulose pads are biodegradable and rot in organic waste or on compost. But more and more people are reaching for coffee capsules. Coffee capsules are usually made of aluminum, less often of plastic. It is difficult to quantify how many capsules end up in the residual waste where they are guaranteed to be incinerated.
In any case, only completely emptied coffee capsules that are disposed of in the yellow bin have any chance of being recycled. New aluminum is used again for new coffee capsules. Aluminum is very energy-intensive to manufacture. 14 kilowatt hours of electricity are used per kilogram of aluminum and 8 kilograms of CO2 are emitted. It’s not really sustainable, even if the capsules contain fair trade coffee.
Geeks Health: Drink environmentally conscious coffee
Change your buying behavior and pay attention to fair trade coffee. Choose organic and from sustainable cultivation and little packaging. This can help the environment. Therefore, do not buy coffee capsules if possible. Only brew as much water and coffee as needed. Whether in a pot or a cup, drink up the amount brewed as much as possible. Pro tip: Freeze leftover coffee in an ice cube tray and use it later for iced coffee and smoothies.
