· Juan Manuel Revuelta, CEO of the Finnova Foundation, mentioned ECOFFEE during the event “Tourism in Transformation: Innovation, Sustainability and European Funding”
· The project transforms coffee waste from the HORECA sector into high-value resources for animal nutrition and natural biocides
· Through reverse logistics and digital tools, ECOFFEE achieves a 30% reduction in CO₂ emissions, reinforcing the role of European innovation
Monday, 22 June 2026, Brussels. The European project ECOFFEE was mentioned today in Valencia during the event “Tourism in Transformation: Innovation, Sustainability and European Funding”, held to analyse the role of innovation and European funding in the transformation of the tourism sector.
During the event, Juan Manuel Revuelta, CEO of the Finnova Foundation, included ECOFFEE in a presentation on European projects involving the organisation, highlighting its contribution to the circular economy through the valorisation of coffee waste generated by hotels, restaurants and catering services (HORECA sector).
ECOFFEE, developed in the Basque Country by a consortium composed of AZTI, Euskovazza, FUMIHOGAR and the Finnova Foundation, works on the collection and transformation of this waste through an innovative reverse logistics system. These residues are converted into new resources for applications in animal nutrition and the development of natural biocides, helping to reduce environmental impact and generate new sustainable value chains.
Circular economy and digitalisation applied to the tourism sector
The tourism and hospitality sectors generate large volumes of organic waste, including spent coffee grounds. ECOFFEE proposes a solution based on selective collection and valorisation, preventing disposal in landfills.
In addition, the project stands out for its technological foundation, relying on digital tools such as RAMP (for commercial traceability) and GRETA (for Life Cycle Assessment), enabling a certified 30% reduction in CO₂ emissions compared to traditional practices. This approach supports the transition towards more sustainable models by improving resource efficiency in tourism waste management.
Innovation and European funding: synergies with FU-TOURISM
The mention of ECOFFEE during the Valencia event highlights the importance of EU-funded innovation as a driver of transformation, creating natural synergies with SME support initiatives in the tourism sector currently being promoted in the region, such as the European project FU-TOURISM.
ECOFFEE has a total budget of €256,451.25 and is co-financed by the European Union under Horizon Europe circular economy-related initiatives, promoting innovative solutions for organic waste valorisation and the development of new sustainable production models.
More information: https://ecoffeeproject.eu/