Beyond the Bean: Stakeholder Dynamics and Mapping, and Waste Management in the Coffee Supply Chain

Coffee is undeniably one of the most widely consumed beverages, yet it is generating massive amounts of waste all along the supply chain from production to consumption, which is posing serious environmental and socio-economic problems. The stakeholders of the coffee supply chain remain responsible for resolving this issue and coordinated contributions are crucial to managing effectively this challenge. However, this study sheds lights on fragmented coffee supply chain actors’ relationships which often lead to inefficiencies, resulting in difficulties in waste generation, limited valorization, and weak regulations. Furthermore, the increased consumer demand for high-quality coffee intensifies pressures on the whole supply chain contributing to overproduction and waste accumulation from one perspective and quality degradation and market instability from another perspective. This study provides a strategic mapping of the coffee supply chain, elucidates the roles and responsibilities of key stakeholders and provides a framework for coffee supply chain waste management by conducting an in-depth analysis of policy reports, industry publications, and secondary data sources. The findings expose critical gaps in connections, where individual actors engage in isolated sustainability initiatives, but a lack of cohesive collaborative strategies prevents large-scale waste reduction. The study highlights how gaps in regulatory frameworks enable unsustainable practices to persist, slowing progress toward the effective integration of circular economy principles. This research emphasizes the pressing need for stronger stakeholder collaboration, more robust policies, and industry-wide incentives to enhance waste valorization. A significant change can be driven if on one hand, the coordination between producers and consumers is ameliorated and strengthened by clearer regulatory mechanisms and on the other hand, if coffee waste is traced, minimized and repurposed efficiently. These findings provide essential guidance for policymakers, businesses, and researchers working to advance sustainability in the coffee industry and transition toward a more circular, resource-efficient and intelligent supply chain. © 2025, AIDI-Italian Association of Industrial Operations Professors.