E-bike Bean Deliveries
Last week we submitted an application for the Oatly Big Idea Grant, proposing a program where we seek to fulfill 100% of home coffee bean subscription deliveries that are ITP (Inside The Perimeter) of Atlanta. While it’s not guaranteed that we would get the grant, it’s been exciting for me and the launch team to dream up unique aspects of how Opo Coffee does business. Here’s an excerpt from our grant application:
Last-mile delivery of coffee beans consumed in-home accounts for a certain percentage of the overall carbon footprint of coffee, typically fulfilled with traditional parcel carriers like UPS, FedEx, or USPS. Home coffee subscription services have increased in popularity in recent years, with substantial growth occurring during the COVID-19 pandemic. While it is difficult to calculate delivered coffee’s exact share of carbon emissions, it is reasonable to assume there is net positive benefit from replacing any traditional non-eco-friendly links in the supply chain with zero- or low-carbon footprint alternatives.
This approach would be particularly effective when it comes to last-mile deliveries to bean subscription customers living within a bikeable radius of the roastery or wholesale partner locations. A typical system would involve a parcel carrier picking up packages from the roastery, bringing them to a local distribution center several miles away, and then placing them on delivery vehicles to go out for final delivery. Even if the delivery vehicles are hybrid or electric, their presence on the roads and frequent stopping contributes to traffic and overall increased fossil fuel consumption and emissions.
Electric cargo bicycles can address these carbon footprint challenges while maintaining efficiency of delivery speed and service. Secondary benefits of an e-bike delivery system include support of city bicycling infrastructure and promotion of physical exercise and outdoor activity.
We’ll release more details later about our budding partnership with Kirkwood-headquartered Edison Electric Bicycles and our plans for using strategic locations throughout the city as distribution hubs for e-bike deliveries of coffee beans. And of course, sometime soon you may get the chance to be one of the first homes on a delivery route!