Coffee grounds have much to offer.
So too waste from fruit, vegetables or nuts, as shown by the female founder of an American startup. Using specially developed refining technology, waste from agricultural farms and food plants is put to good use.
Key to the enterprise is the polarity of water, along with pressure and temperature changes. The process enables fibre, vitamins, fatty acids plus cellulose and lipo-soluble pigments to be extracted from peels, shells and fruit side streams.
These additives are valuable to food manufacturers. The aim is to license the technology so that food plants can refine waste on site.
Similar work enabling circular economy has been underway in Portugal for years. Biological waste can also be used for new construction materials.
