17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were set to be achieved by 2030. Finland has made significant progress in achieving these goals, with a focus on environmental sustainability. According to the updated national sustainable development strategy, “The Finland We Want by 2050 – Society’s Commitment to Sustainable Development” (2016), Finland aims to transform today’s linear economies into circular economies, where virgin materials are used sparingly, and recycling and reuse are the norm (SDG 12). (1) A circular economy is viewed as a solution to job creation and environmental protection. Therefore, the country aims to transform its energy systems and develop ways to account for the environmental costs of economic activities (SDG 7). (1) Spent coffee grounds (SCGs) are one of the major by-products from the preparation of instant coffee and are often discarded as waste due to their lack of economic value. Conventional methods for eradicating SCGs include disposal as solid bio-waste directly into compost or biogas plants. (2) However, these methods are highly disregarding the value-chain generation of SCGs and thus Preloved Coffee highlights the need for better SCG waste management.

In recent years, technologies and policies are actively under development to change this century-old practice and develop SCGs into value-added energy and materials. (3) A study aimed at developing sustainable materials by re-purposing spent coffee grounds (SCGs) found that oil extraction was performed using different organic solvents and yielded approximately 10% coffee oil. Coffee oil contains potentially useful chemical compounds such as fatty acids and caffeine. In conclusion, Preloved Coffee is dedicated to upcycle spent coffee grounds starting from Finland and contribute towards achieving Finland’s SDG goals such as SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 14 (Life Below Water), and SDG 15 (Life On Land). Recycling spent coffee grounds can help reduce waste generation while providing a source of valuable bio-materials that can be used in various applications.

References:

1 https://www.eea.europa.eu/themes/sustainability-transitions/sustainable-development-goals-and-the/country-profiles/finland-country-profile-sdgs-and

2 https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlehtml/2021/ra/d0ra09379c

3 https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fceng.2022.838605/full