Liverpool-based coffee chain Bean Coffee has partnered with Walton Vale Community Shop to reduce landfill waste and fight climate change by repurposing coffee grounds.
In the UK, around 500,000 tonnes of used coffee grounds are discarded in landfills annually, where they decompose and release methane, a potent greenhouse gas. To counter this, Bean Coffee and Walton Vale Community Shop have launched "The Coffee Collective," a pilot initiative to collect coffee grounds from Bean outlets and other independent cafes across Liverpool.
The project will gather, dry, test, and package the coffee grounds to distribute as fertilizer to community gardens, allotments, and farms. Jon Whyte, co-founder of Bean Coffee, noted, “Finding a productive use for coffee waste aligns with our commitment to ESG goals and sustainability, benefiting both communities and the environment."
Walton Vale Community Shop is collaborating with local partners, including Archbishop Beck and Kensington Field, to source coffee grounds from independent cafes. Firefit Hub will also use the project to educate the public on the environmental impacts of waste, while the Torus Foundation will promote the initiative through its network of community gardens and groups. Carbon Happy World, a Liverpool-based consultancy, will test and track the carbon stored in the dried coffee grounds, preventing emissions.
Ann O’Byrne, Walton Vale Community Shop’s managing director, praised the collaboration, saying, "Bean Coffee’s commitment to supporting our community and promoting sustainable living shows how local businesses can make a difference by partnering with community hubs.”
The Coffee Collective seeks further funding to scale up, with a goal of raising £43,825, of which £3,625 has been secured through crowdfunding.