Work

Carbon footprint of coffee production: the case study of Indian Robusta coffee

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Calculating the carbon footprint (CF) in coffee production is crucial for identifying and mitigating key sources of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, enabling the coffee industry to implement more sustainable practices and reduce its environmental impact. Utilizing the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology, the current study quantifies the CF associated with coffee production by collecting primary data through interviews with coffee producers and visits to coffee processing units, roasting, and grinding facilities in Wayanad. The study evaluates dry coffee processing across two scenarios to identify GHG emission hotspots. Scenario A, which includes the production of green coffee, roasting, and grinding at a local unit, and Scenario B, which involves the production of green coffee and its export to the Netherlands. The functional unit is defined as 1 kg of green coffee for both scenarios. Findings show that the CF per kg of green coffee beans equals 0.04 kg CO2eq, and 0.62 and 0.38 kg CO2eq per kg of green coffee for scenarios A and B, respectively. Hulling (36% of CF), roasting (78% of CF), and sea transportation (66% of CF) emerged as the main hotspots of GHG emissions for the green coffee production, scenario A, and scenario B, respectively.

Source: Energy Nexus

DOI: 10.1016/j.nexus.2025.100456