The growing awareness of environment issues is posing a new challenge for vending machine manufacturers and sellers. Are their products environment-friendly? Will users reduce the usage of these machines because of a perception that these machines are contributing to further damage to our environment?

To address the first question, vending machine manufacturers and suppliers are doing everything they can to ensure fears are allayed. Things like total power consumption and in fact, power savings are now very much among their top selling propositions. They are trying to incorporate "environment-friendliness" is incorporated into the all the steps of the vending process- the materials used for the machine, the power consumed and the materials in which drinks are dispensed.

One of the key arguments from the anit-vending machine front is the amount of power wasted by vending machines, that are used for only limited times during the day. In this regard, vending machine operators have a bigger role to play than suppliers and manufacturers of these machines. If vending machine operators were to become more discreet and optimize their use, the overall benefits would undoubtedly tilt the balance in favour of these machines.