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The International Coffee Organization (ICO) has released its latest Coffee Development Report, an in-depth exploration of the circular economy’s potential within the coffee sector.
The report, Beyond Coffee: Towards a Circular Coffee Economy, was co-created in partnership with International Trade Centre (ITC), Center for Circular Economy in Coffee (C4CEC), Lavazza Foundation, and Politecnico di Torino, with contributions from University College London. It combines new data, case studies, and policy recommendations aimed at integrating circular economy practices across the coffee value chain.
The report reveals that coffee processing generates more than 40 million tonnes of waste, creating challenges for sustainable management within the coffee value chain.
However, this renewable biological material – including pulp, parchment, husk, and spent grounds – contains valuable compounds with cross-industry applications in health, packaging, and renewable energy. With 72 per cent of by-products produced in coffee-growing regions, there are significant opportunities to transform this waste into value-added products for local use, regenerative agriculture, or export.
This includes cosmetics, mushroom cultivation, biochar, and nutrient-rich food products.
The report provides policy recommendations for all coffee sector stakeholders, including engaging in pre-competitive research, collaborating with adjacent industries, standardising regulations, fostering markets for innovative circular products, and driving investment, especially for micro, small, and medium enterprises in coffee-growing countries.
The report found small businesses can obtain new income and reduce waste by introducing circular economy practices at all stages in the global coffee industry.
The C4CEC, a pre-competitive platform promoting circular economy innovations, is committed to implementing these recommendations and invites coffee sector organisations to join and further these solutions with the support of strategic partners such as the ICO, other development partners, and coffee stakeholders.
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