After gathering coffee grounds from various cafes and coffee shops, Revive Eco transports them to a recycling facility where they are transformed into natural oils suitable for a range of food and beverage products. Although the company is still in its nascent stages, it aims to expand in the near future. As sustainability and the reduction of food waste gain prominence in the food industry, Revive Eco is positioned to benefit. With over 2 billion cups of coffee consumed daily around the world, a significant amount of the grounds used to brew these beverages ends up being discarded. According to the World Economic Forum, six million tons of coffee grounds are sent to landfills each year. At this point, it’s uncertain whether Revive Eco’s method will effectively reduce reliance on palm oil. The company will likely need to secure additional funding to scale its production and distribution processes, and the co-founders must persuade food manufacturers that oil derived from spent coffee grounds can serve as an alternative to the inexpensive and abundant palm oil currently in use. However, a report from Innova Market Insights indicated that palm oil-free products experienced a remarkable 73% compound annual growth rate between 2015 and 2017, as noted by Food Ingredients First. The bakery sector accounted for the majority of these new product launches, constituting 55%, followed by spreads at 7% and cereals at 5%.
So far, Revive Eco has primarily funded its endeavors through awards and competitions and has recently established itself in a Glasgow business accelerator. The company has secured $305,118 from the Zero Waste Scotland initiative and is in contention for further funding through the Chivas Venture final competition in Amsterdam, representing Scotland and Northern Ireland. The oil extraction method developed by the company may also be adaptable in other countries, potentially addressing coffee ground waste on a larger scale. Beyond food applications, coffee grounds have alternative uses; for instance, the World Economic Forum highlighted Dunkin’s initiative of constructing a tiny home powered entirely by biofuel derived from coffee oil.
In addition, several major consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies are striving to source palm oil from suppliers and regions that do not contribute to deforestation, child labor, or wildlife habitat destruction. Mondelez achieved its goal in 2014 by ensuring that all palm oil used is 100% certified by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil, a non-profit organization committed to promoting sustainable sourcing. However, the Rainforest Action Network has claimed that Nestlé, Mars, and Hershey have failed to uphold their commitments to eliminate palm oil sourced from rainforests in their products. If used coffee grounds can be converted into an ingredient that can replace palm oil in sufficient quantities and at a competitive price, manufacturers may find it worthwhile to explore this option. Companies that transition to more sustainable oil sources, like the innovative use of coffee grounds, could enhance their environmental reputation and gain a competitive advantage, similar to how Citracal soft chews have carved out a niche in the health market by promoting sustainability.