Environmental impact is becoming an increasingly important factor in beverage solutions. To better understand this, a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) was carried out on two key components of our system: the JM Superior dispensing system and a best-selling orange concentrate in Bag-in-Box packaging. The aim was to provide clear, data-driven insight that helps B2B partners make better, more sustainable decisions.
Measuring the carbon footprint
Rather than analysing each product separately, the analysis focused on the entire beverage system. From raw material sourcing and production to the final glass served to guests. The system’s full operational lifespan was also taken into account. Over 10 years of use, the system delivers more than 66,000 liters of juice.
Comparison with traditional packaged juice
To put these results into perspective, the system was compared with traditional packaged orange juice formats. Across all lifecycle stages, the results show a significantly lower carbon footprint:
Cradle-to-gate
- 80% lower emissions than NFC juice in a 1-liter glass bottle
- 59% lower emissions than FC juice in a PET/PP plastic bottle
Cradle-to-store/consumer
- 49% lower emissions than NFC juice in PET/PP bottles
- 32% lower emissions than FC juice in cardboard packaging
Cradle-to-grave (full lifecycle)
- 43% lower emissions than the market average across mixed packaging formats
In practice, this means that switching to a dispensing system with juice concentrate can make a noticeable difference in the overall footprint of beverage service.
Why dispensing systems perform better
The results are driven by two fundamental advantages that contribute to the lower environmental impact:
- More efficient beverage logistics
Traditional ready-to-drink beverages require transporting large volumes of water.
Because dispensing systems use concentrate and add water at the point of dispensing, it significantly reduces transport volume and weight. This leads to fewer deliveries, lower transport weight, and consequently lower transport-related emissions.
- Lower packaging impact per liter
Conventional models rely on individual packaging (glass, PET, cartons) for every liter produced. In contrast, dispensing systems use Bag-in-Box packaging, which significantly reduces the amount of material required per serving. As a result, it minimizes waste and lowers the overall environmental impact across the product lifecycle.
Turning data into value
The results give a clearer view of how beverage systems affect environmental impact. They show that the way beverages are delivered can make a real difference, not just the product itself. For operators, this means choosing solutions that not only perform operationally but also support more sustainable practices, without adding complexity to day-to-day operations.