The use of natural raw materials in the manufacture of cosmetic products and textiles has gained increasing importance in recent years as an alternative to other production methods that are known to be harmful to the environment. In line with this growing trend, Dutch innovation company Caffe Inc. has added an unconventional but circular raw material to its supply chain that is still relatively unknown in the cosmetics industry.
Coffee grounds can be used in care and cosmetic products, but also in building materials and 3D printing. Its potential is underscored by a new agreement between Caffe Inc. and the Amsterdam Climate Energy Fund (ACEF), who have jointly reached a €4 million agreement to build a coffee waste recycling plant in Amsterdam.
At the factory, Caffe Inc. will recycle coffee waste into coffee oil, coffee blocks and coffee dyes, each with their own properties that can be used in various industries. In an interview with FashionUnited, Managing Director Josephine Nijstad, who runs the company together with Evaluna Marquez, explained Caffe Inc.’s plans to commercially scale the production process for eco-friendly product lines in hopes of making this circular raw material alternative accessible to other companies .
“We make these materials available to other parties so that they can use them to create end products,” says Nijstad. “Basically, we provide the ingredients and sell them to companies.”
The duo has been working on testing coffee grounds as a raw material since 2018. With this new project, their production can be tripled and Caffe Inc. can process around 150 tons of coffee grounds per year. With the help of the investment, the company says it wants to save “an amount of CO2 equivalent to 75,000 trees per year” when the factory goes into full operation, which should be the case in October 2023.
Why coffee grounds?
“Coffee is the fuel of our society,” says the company’s statement, but only one percent of the coffee bean is used to make coffee, with the rest ending up in landfills. To avoid the loss of this resource, Caffe Inc. processes the coffee grounds and turns them into natural products that can be used by the cosmetics industry.
The company’s coffee oil, for example, is widely used in skin care products, shampoos, hand soaps, sunscreens and cosmetics, and contains ingredients that have been shown to stimulate circulation, reduce inflammation and improve skin elasticity.
“It’s a beautiful product that contains a lot of active components that most people don’t know about,” says Nijstad of coffee oil. Research on the raw product has shown that it has anti-aging, UV protection and repairing benefits for skin and hair, as well as containing vitamin E and omega-3.
However, the coffee blocks from Caffe Inc., a material rich in cellulose, offer completely different application possibilities. Thanks to the low oil concentration, the coffee blocks can be used for everything from body scrubs to furniture panels to 3D printed objects.
Another way Caffe Inc. intends to use the coffee bean is through natural textile dyes, intended to replace synthetic dyes. Although still in the research and development phase, the company has already worked with Dutch brand Bonne Suits on two-piece suits that use this natural method. The eco-friendly dyes can also be used for screen printing and coloring paper.
“As we expand, we also want to expand color extraction in the process line to really break down the coffee into all its useful components,” says Nijstad.
The importance of logistics and scale
Caffe Inc. places great importance on its logistical partnerships. While the company doesn’t have its own collection system, Nijstad said it has agreements with local catering companies and waste disposal companies in the Netherlands to ensure a steady supply of coffee grounds is available.
“We have to take care of a very good and efficient logistic system, where we set high standards, because the quality of the output is also determined by the quality of the input,” Nijstad continues.
Nijstad added that Caffe Inc. plans to streamline its logistical processes, while continuing to use the funding for commercial scaling, with the potential to take the concept abroad and replicate it for other markets.
“We see that there are a lot of coffee grounds and a lot of small initiatives working with them, but if you really want to make a difference, you have to go big,” says Nijstad. “Especially when you work with waste. That’s why we’re looking for scalable solutions.”
future plans and possibilities
When asked about the future plans of Caffe inc. says Nijstad: “I hope to be able to replicate the concept abroad. For me it is a showcase project that shows what can happen if we use the resources that are available to us differently. I really hope people start looking at coffee grounds differently. Drinking coffee is just the first step in the life cycle.”
“As coffee is consumed all over the world, there is not only a lot of potential for scaling, but also for several similar plants,” she is sure.
The hometown of Amsterdam has already welcomed Caffe Inc., recognizing that it is an environmentally friendly company that is helping to reduce the city’s carbon emissions.
In a statement from Caffe Inc., Mariek van Doornick, Deputy Mayor of Amsterdam, said: “Caffe Inc.’s establishment of the coffee recycling plant fits perfectly into the circular strategy of the city of Amsterdam. Initiatives like this help the city achieve its goal of becoming one of the leading circular centers in Europe.”
The plans won’t expand into a direct-to-consumer strategy, however, Nijstad said, noting that the company already incorporates many different components into its solutions.
She added: “Everyone has their place in the ecosystem we work on and I think our expertise is looking at a resource, seeing its potential and figuring out how to bring it out. Others have the strength to decide how to use them to create end products. I firmly believe that we should work together and use each other’s knowledge.”
This article was previously published on FashionUnited.uk. Translation and editing: Barbara Russ