Creative ways to reuse coffee grounds are at the heart of this Earth Day inspiration from Espresso Dave’s. We love coffee—and we love the planet—so we’re shining a light on something often tossed without a second thought. From futuristic footwear to DIY flower pots, this two-part blog series explores how coffee grounds can spark innovation and reduce waste.
When you finish a pot of coffee, have you ever thought about creative ways to reuse coffee grounds? From converting grounds into stylish sunglasses to redefining everyday building materials, people across the globe have found clever ways to reuse the waste from the beloved cup of joe. By reusing coffee grounds, they are kept out of the landfill and help us get a step closer to a greener Earth. Today we will take a deeper look into some of the innovations we’ve found to reuse coffee grounds in unexpected ways.
Eco-Chic Shades: Sunglasses Made from Coffee Grounds
How about another fashion company shining the light on coffee grounds as an alternative material? Ochis, an eyewear company, found a creative way to reuse coffee grounds—they turn them into sunglasses. Their stylish frames biodegrade nearly 100 times faster than plastic, yet remain durable. Best of all, they give off a subtle coffee aroma. What a fun pick for coffee lovers who love the sun!
Step Into Sustainability: Footwear Made from Coffee Grounds
Ever tried coffee for footwear? CCILU, a Japanese footwear company, found a unique way to up-cycle coffee waste into their shoes and footwear products. Their mission? To redirect waste from the landfill while producing comfortable and fashionable clothing for everyday wear.
They take coffee grounds and recycled plastic water bottles found in landfills and make them into usable products. Spent coffee grounds are used in their shoe molds and soles, as well as the yarn in the shoe fabric, socks and other apparel. If you’re looking for fashionable footwear and want to stay earth-friendly, check out CCILU and their award-winning products.
Concrete Creative Ways to Reuse Coffee Grounds
Engineers in Australia found a way to make concrete stronger by adding used coffee grounds. First, they heat the grounds to 350°C to create biochar. The biochar replaces part of the sand in the concrete mix. As a result, the concrete becomes up to 30% stronger. It also keeps large amounts of coffee grounds out of landfills. So far, scientists have tested the mix on small projects like sidewalks and pathways. Now, they hope to expand its use in larger construction. Eventually, this innovation has the potential to result in a sustainable, widely-used building material!
Biodiesel Production
Another creative way to reuse coffee grounds is by turning them into an energy source. Scientists have found a way to extract oil from coffee grounds. This oil can be converted into clean, renewable biodiesel for vehicles and machines. As a result, it produces fewer carbon emissions than traditional fossil fuels. Even better, it’s a sustainable resource—as long as we keep drinking coffee, the supply keeps coming! Soon, your morning brew could power more than just your day. It might even help drive your car. By recycling coffee oil into biodiesel, we can take a step toward a more sustainable and eco-friendly future.
