Best Practices

Kaffeeform is a small German company that produces sustainable coffee cups and accessories.

As they explain in their website “at Kaffeeform, we take the concept of circularity to a new level. We give renewable resources – that would have ended up in the trash – a second life by transforming them into beautiful everyday objects and infusing them with a new purpose.” (source: https://www.kaffeeform.com/en/mission/ )

Hence, at Kaffeform they aim to upcycle old coffee into new, beautifully designed products. Kaffeeform takes a circular approach to sustainability, considering the environmental impact of the entire product lifecycle from production to disposal.

Lastly, “Our company works together closely with local partners such as a social workshop, a bicycle courier collective and a social printing company. We work as socially, fairly and transparently as possible; both internally and externally.” (source: https://www.kaffeeform.com/en/faq/#hfaq-post-1814 )

Kaffeeform is able to identify and address potential environmental issues throughout the product's lifecycle and ensure that their products are as sustainable as possible. Kaffeeform uses recycled coffee grounds as the main material in their cups and accessories. By using a waste product that would otherwise end up in landfills, Kaffeeform reduces their environmental impact and creates a sustainable material that is durable and long-lasting. This not only helps to reduce waste but also promotes sustainable consumption by creating products that can be used for a long time.

In addition to using recycled materials, Kaffeeform prioritizes sustainable and ethical production methods. Their closed-loop manufacturing process minimizes waste and water usage, ensuring that they are minimizing their environmental impact throughout the production process. Kaffeeform also ensures fair labor practices throughout their supply chain, ensuring that their products are produced ethically and sustainably. Finally, to reduce the environmental impact of transportation, Kaffeeform sources their coffee grounds locally and produces their cups and accessories in Germany, which is close to their main markets in Europe. This helps to reduce transportation emissions and promotes sustainable consumption by creating products that are locally sourced and produced.

Resource Depletion; Waste; Pollution

Kaffeform is a successful social business that has been considered a “coffee cup revolution” (source: https://inside-packaging.nridigital.com/packaging_jan20/coffee_cup_revolution_kaffeeform_s_sustainable_packaging_mission ). They have been working with cafés, corporate clients and (online) shops since 2017. In 2022, they also became the SCA product of the year (source: https://fltrmagazine.com/2022/07/13/sca-product-of-the-year-winner-kaffeeform/ ).

• Business growth – increased production, increased number of clients, increased revenue
• Improved social and green impact of the business
• Business innovation – new and enhanced products are designed over time

According to Anika Paulus, the communications & marketing manager of Kaffeeform “The main challenge is that we produce and create a product that people will buy and, at the same time, promote reducing and consuming less. But with Kaffeeform, we make use of a resource that would otherwise go to waste and we aim to replace single-use products and plastic with products made from our durable new material.”. (source: https://inside-packaging.nridigital.com/packaging_jan20/coffee_cup_revolution_kaffeeform_s_sustainable_packaging_mission )

Design and inquiry - kaffeeform cups: A case study. Design and Inquiry - Kaffeeform Cups: A Case Study. (n.d.). https://sites.google.com/view/designandinquiry/case-studies/kaffeeform-cups-a-case-study (Accessed on 5th of June 2023)

European Business. (2019, April 2). Kaffeeform: Turning coffee grounds into a commodity. Kaffeeform: Turning coffee grounds into a commodity Interview with Julian Lechner, founder and CEO of Kaffeeform. https://www.european-business.com/interviews/kaffeeform/kaffeeform-turning-coffee-grounds-into-a-commodity (Accessed on 5th of June 2023)

Anderson, A. (2022, July 13). SCA product of the year winner: Kaffeeform. SCA Product of the Year winner: Kaffeeform. https://fltrmagazine.com/2022/07/13/sca-product-of-the-year-winner-kaffeeform/ https://inside-packaging.nridigital.com/packaging_jan20/coffee_cup_revolution_kaffeeform_s_sustainable_packaging_mission (Accessed on 5th of June 2023)

Cups from recycled coffee grounds. Kaffeeform. (n.d.). https://www.kaffeeform.com/en/ (Accessed on 5th of June 2023)