Think your coffee’s journey ends in your cup? These 4 companies beg to differ!
A daily cup of coffee is more than just a morning ritual—it’s a powerhouse of energy and health benefits. Beyond keeping you alert, coffee supports brain health, maintains liver function and may even lower the risk of depression. However, the journey of coffee from plantation to mug involves an energy-intensive process that produces significant waste, particularly coffee husks.
Once the coffee beans are separated from their outer layer, the remaining husk is often discarded, contributing to environmental waste. Remarkably, 0.18 tons of coffee husk is generated for every ton of coffee beans produced. Ethiopia alone discards about 192,000 tons of coffee husk annually, as reported in 2017. Improper disposal of coffee husks can lead to environmental damage and health issues, including respiratory problems, eye irritation and nausea.
Addressing this issue, four forward-thinking companies are turning coffee waste into valuable resources.
Husky Energy and Technologies: Transforming coffee husk into biomass
Image from Huskey Energies & Technologies’s Facebook
In 2021, mechanical engineers Hoheyat Berhanu and Yohannes Wasihun established Husky Energies & Technologies, driven by the challenges coffee farmers faced in disposing of coffee husks. The duo developed machines that can transform coffee husks into biofuels—specifically pellets and briquettes—offering an eco-friendly alternative to traditional fuels. Notably, the production and usage of Husky’s biofuels reduce smoke emissions by an impressive 90%, combating household air pollution, a major health hazard in developing countries.
In 2018, the WHO reported that household air pollution from solid biomass fuels contributes to nearly four million premature deaths annually, affecting women and children in developing nations the most. Husky’s biofuels and gasifier stoves aim to provide a sustainable and healthier cooking solution.
Funded by STEMpower and the Bruh Business Idea Competition in 2021, Husky has developed prototypes capable of producing 20 kg of coffee waste pellets per hour. With an eye on the burgeoning biofuel sector, Husky is expanding its production capacity, aiming to produce 1.6 tons of biofuel daily at a competitive price, thereby offering an affordable alternative to charcoal for households, hotels and restaurants.
Huskee: Innovating in the coffee cup industry
The HuskeeCup
Image by Huskee
An average coffee enthusiast generates about three kilograms of coffee husk waste annually. Meanwhile, about 2.5 billion disposable coffee cups are used each year globally. Addressing this issue, Australian startup Huskee has innovated by creating coffee cups and lids from discarded coffee husks. Through a Kickstarter campaign that raised US$114,000 between 2017 and 2018, the Sydney-based startup has collaborated with farmers in China’s Yunnan Province, a specialty coffee region, to source coffee husk for their durable, ceramic alternative cups.
The HuskeeCup, with its distinctive grooved structure, is engineered for comfort and enhanced heat retention, providing a secure grip and resistance to chips and cracks. Available in various sizes (i.e. 6oz, 8oz and 12oz) and dishwasher-friendly, HuskeeCups offer a sustainable solution to the disposable coffee cup problem, promoting a closed-loop system in collaboration with coffee farmers.
Ford: Turning coffee husk to build car parts
Auto parts made from coffee waste
Image by Ford Motor Company
In an innovative collaboration, Ford and McDonald’s are using coffee chaff—the husk of the coffee bean—to manufacture car parts. This initiative, involving Canadian-based Competitive Green Technologies, repurposes coffee chaff from McDonald’s suppliers into a composite material for automotive components like headlamp parts, interior elements and under-hood components.
The process involves exposing the coffee chaff to high temperatures in low-oxygen environments and combining it with resin, plastic and additives to create pellets that can be molded into different shapes. This pioneering use of coffee chaff in car part production renders Ford products approximately 20% lighter and achieves up to 25% energy savings during the molding process.
Woodpecker: A sustainable solution to Colombia’s housing crisis
Image courtesy of Woodpecker
In Colombia, Woodpecker, a Bogotá-based startup, is ingeniously addressing the country’s pronounced housing shortage, particularly in economically challenged communities. By utilizing the copious coffee husks produced by the coffee industry, Woodpecker skillfully manufactures lightweight, prefabricated panels combined with recycled plastic.
These panels serve as the foundation for constructing homes and classrooms. Woodpecker’s structures are not only cost-effective, retailing at about US$4,500, but they are also designed for straightforward, do-it-yourself assembly. This facilitates swift deployment in regions with scant infrastructure. The construction materials champion eco-friendliness, and their resistance to pests and moisture makes them a excellent choice for low-income housing across Colombia’s diverse climates.
CEO Alejandro Franco’s innovation was spotlighted when the Colombian government deployed Woodpecker homes as a rapid housing solution for Hurricane Iota victims in 2020. Despite encountering no power, muddy conditions and numerous other challenges, the homes proved indispensable in providing immediate shelter to those in dire need, especially in Providencia, where the hurricane had nearly eradicated infrastructure. Presently, Woodpecker has successfully marketed over 2,600 homes and is ambitiously planning for expansion.
Repurposing coffee husks: A leap towards sustainable innovation
Turning coffee husks into biofuels, durable goods and even car parts isn’t just innovative—it’s a bold step forward in sustainable business practices. Companies like Husky Energies & Technology, Huskee, Ford and Woodpecker are showing the world that environmental responsibility and economic success can go hand in hand. This shift towards using what was once waste embodies the essence of a circular economy, reducing environmental impact while fostering new markets and opportunities.
These efforts align with the global push for sustainability, demonstrating that businesses can play a crucial role in achieving environmental goals. It’s a vibrant example of how embracing sustainability can spark change and pave the way for a future where business thrives in harmony with the planet. In repurposing coffee husks, we see not just waste transformed, but a blueprint for sustainable innovation that benefits us all.
Also read:
- Chinese Regulators Impose US$9M Fine For Fraud On Luckin Coffee and 43 Implicated Companies
- Brewing with Artificial Intelligence: How Does Technology Breathe New Life into the Coffee Industry?
- How Luckin Coffee Spoiled The Beans
Header Image Courtesy of Freepik
