Assessment of the Sustainability Performance of Third-Wave Coffee Shops in Siirt Province

Abstract

Purpose: Third-wave coffee shops occupy a critical position in the food and beverage sector due to their intensive resource consumptionhigh levels of food waste generationand multilayered supply chain structures. This study aims to evaluate the sustainability performance of third-wave coffee shops operating in the province of Siirt within a multidimensional framework. Methodology: A qualitative research design was adoptedencompassing all 18 third-wave coffee establishments operating in Siirt. Data were collected through semi-structured face-to-face interviews and analysed using thematic analysis within the scope of content analysis. Findings: The findings reveal that sustainability practices are weakly institutionalised and largely characterised by fragmentedinconsistentand individually driven initiatives. Significant shortcomings were identified in food waste managementresource efficiencyand recycling practiceswhile the use of local products and collaboration with local suppliers emerged as a relatively robust sustainability practice. Originality: This study addresses a critical gap in the sustainability literature by examining how sustainability is implemented in third-wave coffee shops within a non-metropolitan context. By revealing that sustainability practices remain largely individualised rather than institutionally embeddedthe findings underscore the necessity of strengthening sustainability governance and integrating sustainability into core business operations.