Did you know coffee waste can become a high-value resource?

The Horizon Europe project demonstrates how everyday coffee waste can be transformed into bio-based ingredients through circular economy, digital traceability and reverse logistics

BRUSSELS, 19 November 2025. Did you know that millions of tonnes of coffee grounds are generated every year across Europe and are mostly treated as waste? The European project ECOFFEE, funded under Horizon Europe and supported by CIRCULOOS, is demonstrating how this widely available by-product can be transformed into high-value, bio-based resources through an innovative circular economy model.

ECOFFEE turns coffee waste into circular value

ECOFFEE is developing a scalable and replicable circular supply chain that gives coffee grounds a second life, reducing waste while creating new economic and environmental value. The project focuses on extending product lifecycles and validating sustainable solutions that can be adopted across different sectors.

The circular model connects coffee by-product generators, research organisations and industrial partners through a structured system that includes reverse logistics, stabilisation of materials and digital traceability. All data related to materials and transactions are integrated into the RAMP digital marketplace, ensuring transparency and open access for commercialisation.

Among its main circular valorisation paths, ECOFFEE is working on:

• Bio-based ingredients for animal feed, rich in fibre and antioxidants
• Bio-based biocidal and phytosanitary products, offering sustainable alternatives for manufacturers

The environmental impact of these solutions is validated through a cradle-to-gate Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) developed using the GRETA tool, ensuring measurable environmental benefits compared to conventional processes.

A European model aligned with green policies

With a total budget of €256,451.25 and a duration of 12 months, ECOFFEE is fully aligned with the European Green Deal, the EU Circular Economy Action Plan, and the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and SDG 13 (Climate Action).

The project consortium brings together complementary expertise from AZTI, Euskovazza, FumiHogar and the Finnova Foundation, combining scientific research, industrial know-how and communication capabilities to support Europe’s transition to a circular bioeconomy.

About ECOFFEE

ECOFFEE is a Horizon Europe innovation project supported by CIRCULOOS, aimed at transforming coffee grounds into high-value, bio-based products through circular economy principles, reverse logistics, digital traceability and environmental validation.
 The consortium is formed by AZTI, Euskovazza, FumiHogar and the Finnova Foundation.

More information: https://ecoffeeproject.eu/