What’s next?
Coffee is the world’s second most traded product after oil. It is also the world’s second largest beverage only exceeded by water.
The global coffee consumption in 2020/2021 was nearly 10 million tonnes and it is increasing. However, only about 30% of a coffee bean’s mass can be extracted into the coffee we drink, so the other 70% ends up as spent coffee grounds, which have traditionally been disposed of as waste (spent coffee grounds or SCG). As a result its reuse has received much more attention, especially in the recent decade.
As a matter of fact, the quality of SCGs is higher and more consistent than other wastes, offering the possibility to recycle as a single stream. These desirable aspects together with its diverse chemical compositions offer a desirable case for product upcycling so it is not surprising to find that interest in SCG upcycling is on the increase, as are supportive polices to drive the necessary technology forward in order to achieve this. One company that is pursuing this goal is Dahsheng Chemical (DSC).
Dreamcell Xpresso
Founded in 1945 and with manufacturing facilities in Vietnam, Indonesia and China, DSC is acknowledged as being a pioneer in foam innovation for the footwear industry. Known for its premium comfort and performance, the company supplies its Durapontex and Dreamcell foam materials and components to some of the world's top brands and is constantly pushing the boundaries of what is possible.
It has recently introduced a new product called Dreamcell Xpresso, an innovative foam technology made with spent coffee grounds that offers the same degree of comfort and performance as existing Dreamcell products while paving the way for a more sustainable future. The company says that its eco-friendly insole is a superior footwear product, that is designed to reduce waste and greenhouse gas emissions.
More than 2.25 billion cups of coffee are consumed everyday around the world. When the spent coffee grounds are sent to landfill, they can produce methane, which causes a greenhouse effect 28 times greater than carbon dioxide. DSC partners with local coffee providers in Vietnam, the world’s second-largest coffee producer, which also creates an astonishing average of 180 thousand tons of coffee grounds every year. DSC says Dreamcell Xpresso will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by keeping coffee grounds out of landfill and upcycling them into a premium footwear product.
“DSC is committed to reducing our impact on the environment by using innovative bio materials to reduce waste and fossil fuel usage,” says Johnson Chang, CEO of Dahsheng Chemical. “With Dreamcell Xpresso, we can extend the life cycle and support a circular economy that benefits both manufacturers and consumers without compromising on comfort and performance.”
Recycling SCG
For every one million pairs of Dreamcell Xpresso insoles produced, DSC will recycle approximately 2.19 metric tons of SCG, ultimately preventing the creation of 0.53 metric tons of methane emissions in landfill. This is equivalent to 13.3 metric tons of CO2 or carbon sequestered by 219 tree seedlings, grown for 10 years. Dreamcell Xpresso polyurethane (PU) open cell foam is made with 20% SCG content, decreasing the amount of fossil fuels and energy in the production process. Aside from a lightweight, breathable foam built for performance and comfort, the coffee grounds also offer a bonus in the form of odour-control and moisture features.
DSC says it is committed to creating sustainable solutions for a greener future, including innovative materials like algae bloom and castor bean oil. The bio materials it proposes to use are non-food, plant-based resources that offer an alternative to reduce fossil fuel usage. Sustainable materials and creating eco-innovation are a step in the right direction toward DSC’s ambitious plan to achieve a zero carbon, zero-waste future.
The search for new raw materials that lessen or avoid the use the use of fossil fuels and their derivatives continues to accelerate as industry comes under evermore pressure from government legislation and increasing consumer concerns as to the world’s environmental future. As a result, the footwear industry has seen some remarkable innovations, not least the use of coffee grounds as a filler in foam insoles. So what’s next?
Insole moulded from Dreamcell Xpresso foam containing 20% SCG.
CREDIT: DAHSHENG CHEMICAL
