Presentations
Location
Memorial Ballroom
Access Type
Event
Event Website
http://www.lynchburg.edu/academics/red-letter-day/student-scholar-showcase/
Entry Number
043
Start Date
4-6-2016 12:00 PM
End Date
4-6-2016 1:00 PM
Abstract
The purpose of my project is to construct and display a Life Cycle Analysis on the Keurig coffee K-cup product. A Life Cycle Analysis is a detailed investigation of the flow of raw materials combining to a disposal and end of a product’s usage. This process will ultimately display the product’s impact on the environment. In my research, I will reveal the extraction, production, distribution, and disposal of a K-cup. This product is created for a quick and easy way to make a cup of coffee. While the usage of a K-cup seems simple, the components and production to create this small pod triggers effects on the environment. My Life Cycle Analysis will entail five stages. These five stages are presented as the cultivation of coffee processing, the operations of product packaging, storage and distribution, consumption use, and the end-of-life disposal. I will also display a brief investigation of sustainable alternatives that will minimize the environmental impact for the use of this product. I will then include a short list of earth-conscious alternatives. My findings will include biodegradable material for the K-cup, a reusable filter container, a new product design with materials that can be easily recycled, and the regular usage of the common coffee machine.
Faculty Mentor(s)
Dr. Laura R. Henry-Stone
The Life Cycle Analysis of a K-cup
Memorial Ballroom
The purpose of my project is to construct and display a Life Cycle Analysis on the Keurig coffee K-cup product. A Life Cycle Analysis is a detailed investigation of the flow of raw materials combining to a disposal and end of a product’s usage. This process will ultimately display the product’s impact on the environment. In my research, I will reveal the extraction, production, distribution, and disposal of a K-cup. This product is created for a quick and easy way to make a cup of coffee. While the usage of a K-cup seems simple, the components and production to create this small pod triggers effects on the environment. My Life Cycle Analysis will entail five stages. These five stages are presented as the cultivation of coffee processing, the operations of product packaging, storage and distribution, consumption use, and the end-of-life disposal. I will also display a brief investigation of sustainable alternatives that will minimize the environmental impact for the use of this product. I will then include a short list of earth-conscious alternatives. My findings will include biodegradable material for the K-cup, a reusable filter container, a new product design with materials that can be easily recycled, and the regular usage of the common coffee machine.
https://digitalshowcase.lynchburg.edu/studentshowcase/2018/presentations/101