Eco-friendly coffee machines in your business : how to choose the best ?
Did you know, everyday, around 161 million coffee capsules are thrown away globally. The long term impact of this is huge. Choosing an eco-friendly coffee machine for your company represents a real step towards helping the environment. This initiative, not only aids in your CSR strategy, it also reinforces your brand image and allows you to respond to the growing expectations of your team when it comes to eco-responsability.
In this guide, discover how to correctly choose a coffee machine for your business , reduce your waste, and transform coffee breaks into long lasting and engaging moments.
The choice for a sustainable coffee solution has become a core part in for a business and their environmental strategy.
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Why choose an eco-friendly coffee machine for your business ?
1. Reduce the carbon footprint of your coffee breaks
Capsule coffee machines generate a significant amount of waste. Every year, approximately 59 billion coffee capsules are thrown away globally, of which only a small number are recycled. As well, the extraction of bauxite for the production of aluminium needed severely harms the environment.
Opt for a whole bean coffee machine, durable and energy efficient, to align your coffee breaks with your CSR engagement.
The use of a capsule-free coffee machine is an eco-friendly alternative that helps to eliminate the overproduction of non-recyclable waste.
2. Respond to CSE requirements and grow your brand image
We are in a time of ecological awareness, where employees expect their company to adopt sustainable practices. An eco-friendly coffee machine, and using ethical coffee, contributes to :
- the reduction of waste
- a better management of energy
- a positive impact on teamwork
- conformity to ISO 14001 regulations
It is a HR asset and non negotiable, as a coffee break reinforces office bonds by developing teamwork and cohesion. It can also be a step towards conformity with ISO 14001 standards.
The criteria for choosing the right eco-friendly coffee machine
| Criteria | Examples | Why it’s important ? |
| Low energy consumption | Level of electrical consumation in use and on standby | Reduce the carbon footprint, save energy |
| Type of coffee used | Whole-bean coffee | No waste, best quality and incomparable taste |
| Materials used in fabrication | Machine produced using recycled materials | Less environmental impact |
| Durability/repairability | Ease of repair, availability of spare parts | Longer life of product, easy maintenance |
| Optimised consumation of water | Reducing water usage per cup of coffee | Preserve natural resources |
| Possibility for recycling waste | Collection of used coffee grounds | Recycling and transformation into heating pellets, compost, etc. |
➡️ Choose an eco-friendly machine, combining performance, sustainability and responsibility.
Prioritize whole-bean coffee : end the use of capsules and pods
You hate seeing your bins overflowing with capsules ? Whole-bean coffee generates zero waste. At Pleyce, our solutions eliminate 52 tonnes of aluminium per year.
And thats not all :
- Returnable packaging to help limit waste
- Delivery of coffee, the month following roasting
- Best quality per cup
- Coffee ground on command for optimal freshness
- Up to 40 % savings as opposed to capsules
A choice that is ecologic, economic and flavourful all at once.
Whole-bean coffee also allows for better control on tracability, essential for responsible purchasing.
Opt for a machine compatible with coffee grounds recycling
But an ecologic approach goes beyond the choice of machine. It also includes waste management. Thanks to coffee grounds collectors included with all our machines, it is easily collectable. Our partners then transform it into compost, heating pellets or logs. Every year, we recycle 90 tonnes of coffee grounds.
This approach is part of our service as we collect the grounds left over from your coffees during maintenance visits without bothering your teams.
And these operations also include routine maintenance of the machine, to guarantee the best performances throughout.
Prioritise short supply chains and artisan roasting
The origin of the coffee is also important in an eco-friendly outlook, because behind each coffee beans hides human and environmental issues. On our part, we work with our local partners for the roasting process. These passionate artisans are spread out nationally throughout France (Paris, Bordeaux, Lyon, Toulon). This allows us to guarantee the freshness and tracability of coffee beans while helping the local economy.
Our certified baristas install the machines and help the business in the setting up, use of the machine and regulating the drinks to correspond to the tastes of your teams.
Think towards zero waste and sustainable use
In addition to your steps towards CSE standards, replace disposable cups and stirrers in the office. Opt for ceramic or glass cups. This is both more aesthetically pleasing and environmentally beneficial for your teams. Other solutions exist like the reusable cups from Newcy, our partner. And to substitute plastic stirrers, The Happy Turtle Straw proposes a biodegradable option made from rice flour and tapioca. Obviously, the classic teaspoon works very well too.
And why not… fun, educational posters in the break room to remind your team of ecological practices !
Zero waste offices are becoming a norm for businesses committed to ecological change.
The eco-responsible approach of Pleyce
A responsible and ethical coffee
At Pleyce, the ecological outlook and the respect for the environment are at the heart of our engagements. All our coffee is traceable and are cultivated with love for the earth, seasons and the producers.
We collaborate with local artisanal roasters who deliver the coffee beans shortly after roasting. Because of this, you benefit from a consistent quality espresso and preserved aromas.
Take the example of our partner la brûlerie Belleville in Paris. They collect and roast coffee from all around the world (Honduras, Guatemala, Brazil, Ethiopia) with passion. Here, human relationships and the protection of the environment are the focus, as the team regularly visit the producers in the fields and contribute to the regeneration of forests in Brazil thanks to their alliance with WeForest.
Recycling integrated into the life cycle of coffee
Did you know that coffee grounds make a very good base for growing mushrooms and vegetables ? But that is not the only possible use. Once recycled, it can be made in to pellets for heating or into ecomaterials, like what is done by our partner Phytorestore.
So, how does this work for you ? Very simple. When your Pleyce technician comes to carry out machine maintenance, they will collect the used coffee grounds, no effort from your part, so you can continue enjoying your cup of coffee.
A sustainable coffee, flavourful and economic
Do you think that the price of an ethical coffee and of high quality in the office is higher ?
Don’t be mistaken.0,20 € per cup for a whole-bean coffee rather than around 0,16 € to 0,40 € for pods and around 0,28 € to 0,43 € for capsules. Not only do you reduce spending, nobody will be complaining about the taste of the coffee thanks to freshly ground coffee.
On the subject of choice, there are many options. Whether your teams prefer coffees with citrus notes, bitterness or decaffeinated, you will find something to satisfy them.
Ecological coffee machines proposed by Pleyce
Unsure of what machine to choose for your business ?
To help you, we have created this comparison table of our machines.
| Number of employees | Cups / day | Location | Type | Recommended models | Drinks | Price |
| less than 25 | 30 to 80 cups | Meeting room / open-space | Automatic bean- cup coffee machine | Janne, Lulea | Janne (24 drinks) Americano, long coffee, hot water, espresso, ristretto Lulea (16 drinks) Americano, long coffee, espresso | Janne Purchase : 2749 € Rental : 72 €/month Pay-per-cup : 0,30 €/drink Lulea Purchase : 1829 € Rental : 62 €/month Pay-per-cup : 0,32 €/drink |
| 25 to 50 | 70 to 80 cups | Break / lunch room | Automatic bean- cup coffee machine | Elin, Skali | Elin (24 drinks) americano, long coffee, ristretto Skali (40 drinks) americano, white coffee, cappuccino, hot chocolate | Elin Purchase : 3094 € Rental : 85 €/month Pay-per-cup : 0,30 €/drink Skali Purchase : 4137 € Rental : 117 €/month Pay-per-cup : 0,31 €/drink |
| 50 to 100 | 100 cups | Break room | Automatic bean- cup coffee machine | Taje, Milla, Vejle | Taje (100 drinks) ristretto, americano, hazelnut and vanilla cappuccinos, hot chocolate Milla (100 drinks) Americano, long coffee, espresso Vejle (24 drinks) Americano, espresso, white coffee | Taje Purchase : 4463 € Rental : 117 €/month Pay-per-cup : 0,30 €/drink Milla Purchase : 4958 € Rental : 137 €/month Pay-per-cup : 0,31 €/drink Vejle Purchase : 3778 € Rental : 91 €/month Pay-per-cup : 0,31 €/drink |
| 100+ | 150 to 250 cups | Cafeteria, entrance lobby | Automatic bean- cup coffee machine | Esmée | 100 drinks coffees, cappuccinos, hot chocolates | Esmée Purchase : 6801 € Rental : 189 €/month Pay-per-cup : 0,30 €/drink |
All our machines include free and unlimited after-sales care. Would you like to learn more about our machines ?
How to make your break room more eco-conscious ?
A few impactful adjustments are sufficient to make your coffee break more eco-friendly. Along with the tips given below, we recommend you to raise awareness in your teams. How ? You can integrate educational posters in your break room for reminders as we can easily forget good habits.
Incorporating humor into posters to remind your team makes eco-friendly practices feel less like a chore and more like a natural part of the daily routine.
Do your colleagues like to snack during breaks ? Adaptation is key. Instead of choosing prepackaged cakes, get glass containers to put fresh pastries into. The decorative touch of the glass containers will be a hit while also helping to preserve the planet.
If your teams are still using plastic water bottles, fix this by installing filtered water fountains and explaining the benefits of using a reusable water bottle. This solution helps your colleagues stay hydrated all day and avoids contributing to plastic pollution which is a major problem today.
Conclusion : a sustainable, economical and socially responsible coffee
Having an eco-friendly coffee machine in the office is more than just an investment. Its the first step in improving your CSR efforts.
Not only do you make your employees coffee breaks more enjoyable, you save an average of 40 % and you create a better cycle for the producers and the planet.
At Pleyce, we will help you in your steps towards eco-responsibility thanks to a traceable, ethical coffee from start to finish, in a short supply chain, with local artisan roasting. A solution free of capsules, pods and cups and includes the recycling of used coffee grounds. Our expert baristas install your machines and are always there to respond to your questions and advise you. We make it a point to do everything possible to build a modern coffee break, aligned with the challenges of tomorrow.
➡️ Interested ? Contact us to discuss your needs.
