Safety , Risk & Reliability Report 2022

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Introduction
Iced coffee is a popular cold beverage that has been derived from coffee beans. It is
favoured by the youth as a substitute of the hot brewed coffee during hot weather. It is
also easy to prepare and has longer shelf life. This report studies the conception of this
drink and then critiques how the idea was brought to life. the aim of the report is to be
able to conceive the design for the product so that any limitation present can be
overcome.
A brief history of this product
There are many myths and legends surrounding the discovery of coffee, but the most
charming is likely the story of the Ethiopian goatherd of the 9th century who realized
that his goats were noticeably giddier and more exciting after eating berries from a
certain tree. At his local monastery, he revealed this to the abbot (as you do) and the
monks quickly found that they could remain alert for prayer all night by roasting and
then boiling the bean. And so, likely, the coffee break was born. But the origin of iced
coffee is even more mysterious. One story trace it back to 17th century Vienna, where
individuals were experimenting with new brewing methods after a Turkish army left
behind an enormous excess of coffee beans. Another tale shows that iced coffee was
made from a French beverage known as Mazagran made up of espresso, lemon and
ice cream. Mazagran was defined as "the initial iced coffee," a cold, sweetened coffee
beverage originating in Algeria around 1840 (Voigt, Buliga & Michl, 2017). It was made
with syrup of coffee and cold water. In the 19th century, frozen, slush-like coffee
beverages are documented, often called "café frappé (à la glace)." The Italian granite al
caffè is similar. In the late 19th century, coffee brewed then cooled with ice, called "iced
coffee," appeared in menus and recipes. Iced coffee was popularized in 1920 by a
marketing campaign by the United States Joint Coffee Trade Publicity Committee.
Chain stores such as Burger King, Dunkin' Donuts and Starbucks sold it much later
(Asioli, Næs, Øvrum & Almli, 2016).
Conception:
How the product became popular?
As a consumer drink, iced coffee is still lagging behind any other soft drink, including
iced tea, warm coffee, bottled water, and even energy drinks. Only 10% of iced coffee
consumption occurs in the United States; most of the remainder (86%) occurs in Asian
nations, which have a longer tradition of chilling the drink. Only 20% of Americans drink
iced coffee, compared to 83% of Americans drinking warm coffee. However, over the
past couple of years, its popularity in the countries has risen. In 2009, iced tea
accounted for 19% of menu products based on coffee; its share had increased to 24%
by the start of 2013. Young people, in particular, flock to the drink: 38 percent of people
between the ages of 18 and 24 drink iced coffee, far higher than the national average
and any other demographic (Asioli, Almli & Næs, 2016).
Design:
How the designs could have been better, different
Most iced coffee that is available in the grocery store come in plastic, paper as well as
glass bottles. They taste more or less the same and sometimes are available in different

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flavours. The most sought-after flavours include vanilla, mocha, caramel, chocolate and
strawberry. The greatest question regarding the product design is that whether it is
environmentally sustainable and the packaging can be reused or not. The paper and
glass bottles can be reused or recycled (Stempien III, Rea & Hoffmann, 2019).
However, the plastic bottles are difficult to manage and are not recommended for reuse.
As a result, it creates a problem in the disposal and is a concern for all.
The design could be bettered if glass bottles are used for small packaged and tetra
pack cartons for larger quantities. Smaller packs can be consumed on the go or within
the place where it is sold. As a result, the bottles can be collected and reused for the
same purpose. Even if the product packaging is in paper or glass, the lids are mostly in
plastic (Ross, 2017). They can be replaced by recyclable plastic that remains attached
to the bottles so that they can also be collected easily and recycled.
Support infrastructure to make this product more acceptable/viable
The infrastructure required is the machinery for packaging and making use of recyclable
plastics. Most companies already have bottles and other packaging materials pre-
delivered to them from other sources rather than producing them in the same company.
The ice coffee making companies would therefore only require the raw materials that
are reusable and recyclable (Watson et al. 2016).
Implementation:
Convenience
The bottles are more convenient than plastic take-out glasses as they are not spill-proof
and also increase the plastic usage. The bottles are convenient as they can be taken
anywhere and also do not spill easily. They have lids that remain attached to the
packaging so that they can be fettered when required.
The drink is also preferred as it has coffee, which is one of the most favoured
beverages that people intake daily as waking up ritual and for making up for lost energy.
Being served in a bottle while being chilled is convenient as the consumers do not have
to make it themselves and can also take it during hot weather (Ashour, 2019). The
packaged drink can be easily availed through a grocery store and is easy on the
pockets as well. Coffee shops like Starbucks, Dunkin donuts and other coffee shops are
most costly as they provide freshly made coffee. It is especially popular among the
young generation who have to often wait throughout the night for studying and work.
Coffee is a rich source of caffeine which raises heart rate and increases the blood flow
to the brain (Arroyo & DiGiovanni, 2018). As a result, it increases the capacity of the
consumer by putting away symptoms like sleepiness or lethargy.
Health issues
Iced coffee contains a high amount of sugar, milk and cream. The calorific value of the
drink is equal to that of a meal. Consuming high calories in a drink can cause the
person to gain weight over a short period of time. The drink also contains caffeine,
which when consumed in large quantities and over a long period of time can have an
effect on organs like the brain and heart (Fischer et al. 2019). High amount can rewire
the brain and have side effects like irritability, nervousness, anxiety, restlessness and
insomnia. It also increases blood pressure and heartbeat which over a longer period of
time are not beneficial and put stress on the organ. Another factor is that caffeine is a

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psychoactive drug and like any other drug it will cause addiction and require the
individual to consume more and more quantities to show the desired effect (McCook,
2017).
How and why did this product come to exist
The idea of iced coffee existed as old as during the time of the Greeks. The story of iced
coffee is many but the one that was most recent and most similar to the one in recent
use is of a Nestle employee who was trying to introduce an instant mix of coffee. During
the trip he wanted to prepare a drink for himself, however, he could not find any hot
water and hence have to opt for cold water instead. He put the mixture in a shaker to
ensure that the mixture was dissolved thoroughly. This how the first ice coffee was
made. This makes it clear how iced coffee came to exist (Tucker, 2017). Powered
coffee had already simplified the process of making coffee, however, people required to
do away with the need to heat water as well. Moreover, iced coffee was also a more
suitable drink to beat the heat and became popular in areas where it is warm. Also, iced
coffee or cold coffee can be easily stored after preparing for at least three months. The
added advantages and ease of making made it popular than the normal coffee.
Operation:
Could you have done it better, more efficiently
The shelf life of packaged, factory-made iced coffee is of about 12-24 months
depending on their ingredients. They are mostly made up dried milk powder rather than
fresh milk. In my opinion, the ingredients could be made more resistant to time if the
beverage is prepared on the spot by mixing a powdered mix into the chilled diluted milk.
The powered mixture will require less amount of preservative to sustain than the liquid
beverage and hence will include less harmful chemicals. The powdered mixture can
also provide more varieties of flavour and can also include dry fruit pieces or tapioca
pearls to add to the nutritive value of the drink. The milk used needs to be replaced with
2 per cent skimmed milk to decrease the fat content and calorific value. The sugar
content also needs to be lowered as it is not healthy to drink it on a daily basis.
Another change that could have been made, has already been pointed out. The
packaging of most ice coffee products is in plastic bottles which are difficult to dispose
of and are associated with many health hazards. It is therefore recommended that the
packaging be replaced with paper or glass bottles that can either be recycled or reused.
The glass bottle drinks would be preferable to drink it on the spot so that then they can
be easily collected and reused after sterilisation. The lids are mostly made of plastics
and are disposed of randomly. As a result of which, they cannot be recycled and some
of them make their way into landfills. The design proposed for the packaging would
ensure that the lids remain attached to the bottle even after they are opened. The lid
can be closed again when the bottle needs to be stored (Poortinga, 2017).
Since milk and cream is often a staple product in the coffee, it cannot be consumed by
lactose intolerant people and by vegans. Producing a line of products that have vegan
milk that has been prepared from almonds and soya will prove to solve the problem for
such people. It will also decrease the dairy demands on the company. However, the
pricing of the product will be increased to match up with the expenses that were made
for setting up the new vegan line.

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What are the downsides of the product?
The greatest downside of the product is the high calorific value and sugar content. It is
not fit for diabetics, people with high blood pressure and put consumers at the risk of
obesity. The caffeine content is usually low in these drinks but when consumed
regularly or in large quantities they can affect the metabolism of a person causing
issues like restlessness, high pulse rate and even insomnia. Due to the palatable taste,
it is also popular among kids and sold without any age limit. Caffeine is harmful for
children and is also addictive. The drinks are still very expensive when compared to
other soda or carbonated drinks. They may be suitable once in a while but will burn a
hole in the pocket for a habit.
The greatest disadvantage is the use of plastic that is associated with a coffee
addiction. This comprises of take out cups, disposable straws, bottles and lids. They all
make way either into the ocean or into landfill. Since plastic cannot be degraded
naturally, it will continue to harm the natural flora and fauna. The packaging needs to be
made eco-friendlier. The new design of the product will be either made up of paper or
glass. The glass bottles will be reused and the paper and plastic parts will be recycled.
The powdered mixture would also be provided in a paper bag. The mouth of the bottle
will be small so that the need for straw is not felt.
A consideration of assets & costs of setup, maintenance issues
The costs of the setup will not be affected much. Since, it is seen that most beverage
companies have their packaging outsourced. They already have the equipment to sell
products in glass bottles. New equipment needs to be planned for the paper packaging.
The benefits of paper packaging are that it is easier to store and transport as they can
be easily compressed and can then be inflated to regain their shape.
The glass bottles will also need a sterilisation centre where the used bottles will be
collected and steam washed. This would require a separate supply chain through which
the bottles will be collected from the centres they were once delivered. Moreover, glass
bottles are fragile and hence their storage and transport may be an issue. However, in
the long run, they serve as a more viable and eco-friendly packaging which will
substitute plastic bottles (Fuller & Rao, 2017). Glass bottles are also considered as
many to be more aesthetic and hence has better marketability.
Decommission:
Use as well as at the end of life recycling
As pointed out earlier, a significant change in the design of the product will be made
while keeping the environment in mind. The plastic bottles will be replaced for the paper
(cardboard) and glass bottles. The lids will be made up of recyclable plastics and will
remain attached to bottles even after they have been opened. This is a measure to
ensure that the lids find their way to proper disposal and are recycled.
Marketing
The general public is very aware of the environmental concerns and is mending their
ways for the benefit of the planet. Packaged iced coffee drinks are most popular among
the youth and working generations. They are the people who are greatly concerned an
also ready to make a change in their lives. Marketing and advertising about the new
eco-friendly bottles are sure to make the youth prefer the brand over other competitors

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who sell in plastic bottles (Mahan, 2019). The new dry instant mix will also have greater
taste varieties. On the other hand, the glass bottles are more aesthetic and pretty and
call another group of consumers who are easily allured by beautiful things. One of the
marketing can be to give steel straws for free as a promotional event. The steel straws
will replace the disposable plastic straws which when disposed of in the ocean are
ingested by marine animals.
Competitive pressures
The number of beverage companies that have an active iced coffee or tea line is
increasing day by day. This beverage is still gaining popularity after being in use since
the 1900s. Most businesses want to encash this raging market for iced coffee. As a
result, competition in the market is very high. The taste of coffee and flavours cannot be
changed and hence the companies have more or less the same products. The
competition is thus very high in the market. The suggested changes in the product like
using less sugar content, skimmed milk and instant mix to decrease the amount of
preservatives needed, will prove to be a healthier option of the consumers. Another
competitive advantage can be the vegan iced coffee products that will be made from
vegan milk (Angeloni et al. 2019). People who are lactose intolerant or prefer a vegan
diet often have to consume black coffee or make their own brew using vegan milk. If a
packaged iced coffee can be delivered to such people it will be able to capture a market
of customers who have never been accessed before.
Conclusion
Iced coffee may be the most popular and sought-after beverage among the youth;
however, it has many health issues associated with it. Due to the high calorie and sugar
content it is not fit for many people. Also, the milk as an ingredient is unfit for lactose
intolerant people. The design of the packaging adds on to plastic waste which cannot be
recycled or reused. The above specified problems were resolved in the report and the
design of the packaging was substituted with one that is eco-friendlier.
Recommendations
It is recommended that the design of the packaging be updated so that they do not add
on to the plastic waste. The eco friendly design can be made as the unique selling point
of the product, so that environment conscious people favour this product over its
competitors. Also, a new variant which is made up of vegan milk is used so that it can
be consumed by lactose intolerant people and vegans. This will be beneficial for the
business as it will create new market for the product.

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References
Angeloni, G., Guerrini, L., Masella, P., Innocenti, M., Bellumori, M., & Parenti, A. (2019).
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