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A Look to the Future from recycled coffee grounds. The material is suitable
for injection molding and used to make automotive,
tableware, and more. British institution BeaNused®,
As Pugliese told us in the interview, there are
which mainly focuses on sustainable material solu-
various advantages of construction materials made
tions, also managed to create coffee grounds made
from coffee grounds. The first and the most import-
from materials. Their innovative patent-pending
ant one is obviously being able to use waste and
process mixes recycled coffee grounds into various
transform it into a new product. Pugliese said, “
plastics, including bioplastics, renewable and recy-
Using our innovative LOWIMPACT® material, we
cled polymers, and ocean waste. These materials can
implement 25% less plastic. Moreover, since we used
then be shaped and formed into many different prod-
bioplastic, this furniture would be compostable.”
ucts. In fact, research done by Rajeev Roychand at
As the project with D·Origen’s new coffee shop
RMIT University in Melbourne found that coffee
proves highly successful, Pugliese and his team plan to
grounds can replace some of the sand in concrete and
continue experimenting with the material over the next
make the material stronger because the biochar helps
few months. During this time, they aim to create vari-
create a porous structure that traps moisture and
ous objects for different brands, testing the material’s
stops the concrete from drying out from the inside.
versatility. In parallel, they are also developing a system
“I am sure that innovation and sustainable ma-
to manufacture the material locally, which will enable
terials will be very important elements for a good
them to sell it as filament for 3D printing or in pellets
part of the present and future manufacturing. We are
for large-format 3D printing. This new system will
at an environmental compromise and we cannot pro-
allow individuals to create objects with multiple func-
crastinate. In recent years, we have confirmed this,
tions, unlocking a wide range of possibilities.
with big fashion brands trusting us to create shop
LOWPOLY is not the only one who has faith in
windows and stores all over the world,” said Pugliese.
the material made by coffee grounds. A few compa-
In the future, we might see coffee grounds being
nies and institutions around the world have touched
used in more aspects, creating a circular economy.
on this topic already. Re-Worked, a non-profit in-
Talking about sustainability in the coffee industry is
dustrial design and product manufacturing company
easy, but it is difficult to imply it truly. However,
from the UK, has produced a few pieces of furniture
people like Pugliese and Uhlig decided to take the
that are made from coffee waste. The company stated
hard way and carry out projects showcasing their
that it has sold 300-400 pieces of coffee-made furni-
beliefs. Uhlig said: “At D·Origen, we are aware that
ture each year since its launch in 2013. Google has
sustainability in the coffee industry is only achievable
bought designer furniture from them comprising 60%
through small but important steps. And that’s the
used coffee grounds. On the other side of the planet
path we are on.” We all know that sustainability will
in China, the professors and students from the Tong-
be the future for the coffee world and the universe
ji University College of Design and Innovation have
in general. However, it is now the time to take a step.
made coffee grounds into dining tables, chairs, and
Perhaps a step into D· Origen’s new flagship space
loudspeaker boxes in cooperation with German spe-
with all furniture made from coffee grounds would
cialty chemical firm Covestro.
help you have a taste of the future.
Moreover, many innovative companies and in-
stitutions have seen coffee grounds as a very poten-
tially sustainable material. Coffeefrom, an innovative
Italian start-up specializing in transforming coffee "Sustainability in the
grounds, has developed thermoplastic materials made
coffee industry is only
achievable through small
but important steps."
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