Some things never change: Donald Trump’s hair, the Cubs’ chances of making it to the World Series, and until now: vending machines. When I think of vending machines I think of brown boxes with coils dispensing chips, cookies, and candy. Apparently I’m living in the past, because the once stagnant industry of vending is being revamped for the 21st century. Heavily influenced by global concerns of energy waste, obesity, and malnutrition, the brown box is soon becoming a thing of the past.
Vending machines are generally overlooked as something detrimental to a workplace, school, or gym. After all, the store is too far away and these people need to snack! Heck, we’ll just plug it in, sign the contract, and everyone will be happy! This is the kind of short-sighted thinking that can have negative long term effects.
Let’s take a look at some of the negative impacts the traditional junk food vending machines have:
- Energy consumption: A refrigerated vending machine can consume between 2,500 and 4,000 kilowatt-hours per year. To give you some perspective, in 2008 the average home consumed around 11,000 kilowatt-hours. So if those 3-4 vending machines at work could power your home for a year! The good news: new eco-friendly vending machines now use 50% less electricity!
- Product mix: traditional vending machines contain nothing but junk food. Its no news flash to anyone that the U.S. and the world as a whole is struggling with the rise of obesity and its associated negative health impact. 28 out of 50 states have reported an increase in the percentage of obese people, and childhood obesity is one of the greatest threats to the next generation. The good news: healthy vending machines are steadily being placed in schools, gyms, and office buildings worldwide!
- Education: traditional vending machines give no indication as to the nutritional content of their foods. You can’t bust the glass and read the label! Consumers then rely on what tastes good, which to the average person is unfortunately some type of sugary or salty snack with little to no nutritional value. The good news: New, high-tech vending machines with large LCD displays and on-board personal computers power an interactive snack buying experience for the consumer. Nutritional content is now at the touch of a button!
Maybe that’s what the Cubs need: healthy vending machines in their training facility! It would explain a lot…Don’t hate on me, Chicago, I’m just trying to help.
About Patrick Sanders