(English) Best Practices

EcoBean is a technology company with a mission to help reduce coffee waste at the scale of business.

EcoBean uses used coffee grounds to produce biodegradable flower pots, eco straws and lucky cups In a nutshell, it's about turning coffee waste into sustainable chemicals.

Flower pots are used for flowers and plants nursery and are completely biodegradable within 6 to 12 months depending on soil and weather conditions. They can be planted in the soil without needing to repot the plants.

Eco straws are designed to be recyclable and can be collected with coffee waste. They can only be used in cold drinks and can be immersed for up to one hour.

Lucky Cups are disposable cups made from coffee waste and vegetable material. Additionally, each Lucky Cup supports small-scale coffee farmers in Ethiopia.

EcoBean's solution offers eco-friendly disposal of coffee grounds. The company transforms waste into useful products. From collection to logistics to final product, the aim is to extend the process of a circular economy. That is why this company is an example of good practice in the project. EcoBean is building the world's first biorefinery to fully convert coffee waste into raw materials. It focuses on waste-free production and maximising the value of used coffee grounds. EcoBean believes in product innovation that drives large-scale change and improvement for the environment, people and planet.

In line with its sustainable environmental impact, the company is extending the coffee value chain and making it more sustainable by introducing a closed-loop economy and reducing CO2 emissions. The company is working to develop the world's first biorefinery to fully process coffee waste into coffee oil coffee lignin, lactic acid, protein feed additives, leaving no waste.

In terms of positive social impact, EcoBean supports small-scale coffee producers in Ethiopia through the solutions it offers.

EcoBean also introduces the 6th wave as a circular revolution closing the coffee loop and concentrating on innovative solutions for coffee waste treatment and reducing CO2 footprint in the whole value chain.

Through the innovations and activities introduced in the company, results such as the following have been achieved, among others:

• dealing with coffee waste,
• reducing CO2 footprint,
• reusing coffee waste,
• meeting eco regulations,
• being planet friendly,
• gaining new customers.

A company can measure the success of its coffee waste disposal practice through indicators such as environmental impact, innovation resulting in large-scale change, employee satisfaction, customer satisfaction, expansion of its customer network, empowerment or increased company recognition.

There is no information available on the certifications held by the company.

The biggest challenge EcoBean may face is the funding needed primarily to implement the innovation of a biorefinery to process coffee waste. In addition, gaining interest in the company can be problematic, as relatively few people and institutions are currently interested in reusing coffee grounds, as they see them as unnecessary waste that can no longer be used.

It will be important here to focus on proper marketing, as well as using the available communication channels to promote the company and its sustainable solutions.

On the financial side, it will be a good idea to research on available funding opportunities for the project, for example grants from the state or institutions that support the idea of sustainability and ESG in companies.

A useful tip in this case may be to team up with an experienced investor who wants to stand behind forward-looking technology and innovative products. Such an investor can be of great help in selling the products and services offered by EcoBean.

EcoBean. (n.d.). SDGS. Retrieved from: https://ecobean.pl/sustainable-development-goals/

EcoBean. (n.d.). PROCESS. Retrieved from: https://ecobean.pl/process/