SUSTAINABILITY & EFFICIENCY
focuses on energy efficiency. Independent assessments and
Sustainability credentials can support operators in a changing market
E
nvironmental considerations are becoming increasingly important in the procurement of vending and
coffee services. Larger organisations in particular may include sustainability criteria within their tender processes, requiring suppliers and operators to provide evidence of how the equipment they offer performs against environmental objectives. For operators, this means that understanding the sustainability credentials of the equipment they supply is becoming an increasingly important part of responding to these requirements. Manufacturers are responding by placing greater emphasis on sustainability across
their businesses, rather than treating it as a standalone issue. Evoca, for example, structures its sustainability roadmap around four areas: product development, climate, people and business governance. The company also provides a carbon footprint calculator for coffee machines, allowing operators to assess the carbon footprint associated with their equipment and use this information when considering their own environmental objectives. Energy efficiency is another area where equipment specification can make a difference. Gaggia’s recently updated G Line coffee machines have A or A+ energy ratings, while the Necta vending range
DRS operational concerns in the spotlight
The Department for Environment & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has addressed a number of concerns raised by the Vending & Automated Retail Association (AVA) on the introduction of the Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) across England, Northern Ireland and Scotland. AVA has consistently supported the
environmental ambitions of DRS but has also highlighted several practical considerations that could impact vending operators. Key issues raised included how deposits should be displayed within vending machines, the implications of dual pricing, customer messaging requirements, and the challenges of managing machines that stock both scheme-eligible and exempt products. In its reply, DEFRA acknowledged the unique nature of vending machines and confirmed that further work is required to address some of the operational questions
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identified by the industry. The Government also reiterated its intention to implement the DRS across England, Northern Ireland and Scotland from October 2027. While drinks containers sold through vending machines will be included in the scheme where applicable, DEFRA confirmed that vending machines will not be expected to function as designated return points. A number of outstanding areas, including pricing presentation, consumer information, branding obligations and mixed-product vending machines, are now being considered by Exchange for Change (EfC), the organisation responsible for delivering the DRS. AVA is actively working with EfC to help develop practical solutions and ensure the specific needs of vending operators are fully understood.
As the scheme continues to develop, AVA has said it will maintain close engagement with both DEFRA and EfC, advocating
certifications can provide another source of evidence for operators. Evoca has achieved EcoVadis Platinum status in both 2024 and 2025, placing it among the highest-performing companies assessed by EcoVadis across areas including environmental performance, labour and human rights, ethics and sustainable procurement. Its Sustainalytics rating also places it highly within the industrial machinery sector. For operators, the value of this type of information is less about making broad sustainability claims and more about having credible evidence to support them. As Andrew Barrow, Evoca UK managing
director, explains: “All performance data has been independently audited – which is an important consideration for any operator. These aren’t just our claims; we have the evidence to back them up.” As sustainability requirements become more commonplace within procurement, access to independently verified information is likely to become increasingly useful for operators. It can help them demonstrate how the equipment they supply aligns with the environmental criteria being set by customers, while also providing a clearer basis for comparing equipment and its operational performance.
for clear, proportionate and workable arrangements that support compliance while recognising the operational realities of the vending industry ahead of the October 2027 launch. The upcoming DRS is being addressed
at the next AVA Live event at Templeman Retailing & Vending Ltd, Newcastle, on 16 September 2026. EfC will be presenting the latest scheme developments and attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions directly.
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