Page 25 - CTI83_EN

C

was bio-bean’s first biofuel product. These compact logs
can be put in wood-burners and stoves, burning hotter
and more efficiently than traditional wood. An entire
office’s coffee break can now heat homes around the
UK. Now the world’s largest coffee recycler, bio-bean is
developing new ways to upcycle coffee. This includes
extracting food-grade natural flavors from quality used
grounds and producing Inficaf, a raw material that can
replace synthetic materials in a wide range of industries.
“Circular economy must be the future if we are to con-
tinue on this planet,” the company says. “Whether it
becomes our every day sooner or later is entirely de-
pendent on behavior change, from government and
business leaders across to every consumer out there.”

Coffee Waste at Home

Although recent events have proved the need for
a less wasteful society, the circular economy in the
coffee world isn’t completely new. Small amounts of
coffee are indeed a great source of nitrogen and other
minerals for home gardens. Some community sponsored
initiatives such as the Ground to Ground have sprung
up around the world. This website aims to educate cof-
fee shops on how to recycle their grounds and tells the
everyday person how best to compost their grounds in
their own backyard.

The Future of Coffee is in Our Hands
Coffee Literally Fueling the World
Are you still throwing valuable used coffee grounds
Not all of the recycled coffee ends up in a space as into the trash? Your local community likely has better
visible as fashion or with your dinner. Although you options for you. It’s clear now that our current methods
wouldn’t want to eat them, coffee grounds are full of oil aren’t working. With the ingenuity of these companies
and incredibly calorific. Companies like UK based bio- and our own capabilities to make a difference in our
bean have recognized coffee grounds as the amazing fuel community, coffee-drinkers can turn the tide. Ask your
source they are. bio-bean is industrializing coffee waste favorite local coffee shop what they do with coffee waste.
in the UK, saving tons of carbon emissions every day. Write to a national chain. Convince your office to seg-
One of the easiest ways to convince consumers and regate coffee waste and set up a collection. There are
businesses to join in the circular economy is to help many ways to join the movement and make your morn-
them save money. Coffee grounds are wet and heavy so ing cup of coffee keep working for the better of every-
their disposal can be expensive for businesses. bio-bean one, long after you savor your last sip.
has set up a recycling collection service that requires
minimal effort on the part of the recycler. Businesses
can lower their carbon footprint easily since carbon
emissions from recycled grounds are 80 percent fewer Your local community
than those sent to a landfill. The company collects cof-
fee waste from both large and small offices, coffee shops, likely has better
restaurants, and anywhere else there might be coffee.
Once the used coffee is brought to the world’s first upcycling coffee waste
industrial-scale coffee recycling factory, they are dried options for you.
and processed into different products. The Coffee Log

26 27