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However, the reality is not always quite BSA Member
that simple.
Most water filters used in coffee machines
contain ion exchange resin and carbon.
These materials are extremely effective at For businesses that genuinely want to
adjusting water chemistry and protecting reduce their environmental impact, that
equipment, but they do not last forever. lack of transparency can make it difficult to
Once the filter is exhausted, it needs to be understand what the real picture looks
replaced. like.
In many cases that means the entire Historically the filtration industry has
cartridge is simply thrown away. prioritised convenience. Disposable
cartridges are simple to install, easy to
When you start to look at the number of replace and require very little involvement
cafés, restaurants and coffee businesses from the end user. From a practical point
using filtration systems, it quickly becomes of view it makes sense, but it does mean
clear that this creates a large volume of the system relies heavily on a throw away
waste. If those cartridges are not recycled model.
or processed properly, the sustainability
benefits that filtration promises can start At IX Water we believe there needs to be a
to look less convincing. better way of approaching this.
This is where the issue of greenwashing One of the key differences in our approach
begins to appear.
is resin regeneration. Rather than treating
exhausted resin as waste, it can be
Greenwashing is something that exists collected and restored so it can be used
across many industries, and water again. This process has been used for
filtration is no different. Products are often
marketed as environmentally friendly decades in industrial water treatment but
has rarely been applied within the coffee
without much discussion about what sector.
happens at the end of their life. The
messaging focuses on the positive side of
filtration while the disposal of the filters
themselves is rarely part of the
conversation.
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