Simulation of gamboeng tea product manufacturing process and their role in reducing environmental impact

Abstract

This study offers an overview of how changing habits in consuming a cup of tea can contribute to make better environment. As the initial existing scenario, survey for picturing Indonesian consumers in preparing their cup of tea from dried leaves was conducted to urban and suburban citizens. According to the survey, both respondent groups were using LPG as the first choice in boiling water for preparing tea, followed by using an electric dispenser as the second choice. This habit causes CO2 emission from processing a cup of tea by Indonesian consumer was 24 g CO2-eq per cup of tea, excluding the tea organic waste. The portion of CO2 emission from boiling water in tea preparation was 41.93% of whole CO2 emission from plantation to served cup. The emission can be significantly reduced by converting dried tea (initial scenario) into the ready-to-drink product, in the form of powdered tea (second scenario) and boxed tea (third scenario). This study simulated an integrated system of tea product manufacturing system with biogas utilization produced from tea organic waste. Simulation conducted based on daily manufacturing process at the Gamboeng green tea factory. Additional required energies were simulated from the wood pellet, which is the best practice in the Gamboeng Tea factory. By shifting tea consuming habit from dried tea to powdered tea and/or boxed tea, the emission from a cup of tea can be reduced, with range of reduction varied from 8.87 g to 22.13 g CO2-eq per cup of tea. If the Gamboeng green tea daily production capacity of the factory is fully converted into powdered tea, the potency of CO2 emission reduction reaches 26.92 metric ton CO2. However, the factory should pay attention to providing the water for the manufacturing process. The required water was 45.23 m3 of drinking water if all dried tea converted to powdered tea. Moreover, 11.53 m3 of water is required as irrigation for the biogas process in converting all tea organic waste into biogas.