· The European project strengthens awareness of the circular economy and coffee waste valorisation
· The participation is part of the dissemination and awareness-raising activities led by Finnova within the project work package
Monday, 1 June 2026, Brussels. The European project ECOFFEE participated in ExpoFoodTech & Food 4 Future World Summit 2026, held in Bilbao, as an example of sustainable innovation and circular economy applied to the agri-food sector. The participation included Iker Begiristain, representative of Euskovazza; David García and Mónica Gutiérrez, representatives of AZTI, lead partner of the project consortium. The initiative helped showcase the potential of coffee waste valorisation and reinforce the awareness-raising and knowledge transfer activities promoted by ECOFFEE.
ECOFFEE and the circular economy in the agri-food sector
Food 4 Future World Summit has established itself as one of Europe's leading events dedicated to food innovation, digitalisation and sustainability. In its sixth edition, held at the Bilbao Exhibition Centre (BEC), the event brought together more than 8,000 industry professionals and over 320 international experts. Co-organised by AZTI, Food 4 Future has become a benchmark platform for knowledge exchange, the presentation of technological innovations and the promotion of solutions aimed at transforming the food industry towards more efficient, automated and sustainable models.
In this context, ECOFFEE showcased how spent coffee grounds can be transformed into high-value sustainable resources through innovative valorisation processes. The project promotes solutions aligned with the objectives of the European Green Deal and the transition towards circular bioeconomy models.
Awareness-raising and dissemination activities
Participation in Food 4 Future 2026 forms part of the dissemination and awareness-raising activities of the work package led by Finnova. These actions aim to encourage behavioural change and the sector-wide adoption of sustainable solutions through public campaigns, training workshops and knowledge transfer activities.
The presence of the partners at the event also contributes to strengthening dialogue with stakeholders across the agri-food ecosystem and promoting new collaboration opportunities in areas such as waste management, food sustainability and technological innovation.
Innovation and European cooperation
ECOFFEE demonstrates the potential of European cooperation to transform organic waste into sustainable solutions with a real impact on the agri-food value chain. The project is committed to developing replicable models that contribute to reducing waste, optimising resources and generating new sustainable economic opportunities.
The ECOFFEE project has a budget of €256,451.25, co-financed by the European Union through the Horizon Europe programme (Grant Agreement CIRCULOOS No. 101092295). The consortium is composed of AZTI, Euskovazza, FUMIHOGAR, and the Finnova Foundation, entities working together to promote innovative, sustainable, and replicable solutions within the agri-food value chain.
More information: https://ecoffeeproject.eu/
