Edible cups are great for coffee fans and help reduce waste. But what about the 10 billion kg of coffee grounds that are discarded each year?
Well, Australian engineers took a shot at concrete to create a powerful mix. By heating the grounds at 350℃ in an oxygen-free room, they first produced biochar.
This was used to replace 15% of the sand during the production of concrete, ultimately making it 30% stronger.
Australia alone has 75 million kilograms of coffee grounds available for sustainable building projects.
Globally, the innovation could significantly reduce the industry-related 2.8 billion tonnes of CO2 emissions each year.
Plant-based insulation material is a perfect fit for the construction industry. So too furniture from cocoa-bean shells.
