Coffeefrom: from nature, the future

Have you ever thought that spent coffee grounds could not be a waste, but a great resource? 


Let’s start with some numbers. Italy imports annually around 606 thousand tonnes of coffee (this is 17% of the EU’s coffee imports), and on average an Italian consumes 6 kg of coffee annually. As we can see, Italy is a significant coffee consumer, which means that Italy produces a significant quantity of spent coffee grounds.


Spent coffee grounds have a lot of qualities: in particular, they are rich in nitrogen, an element with a high potential for energy production, saturated fatty acids, and cellulose. They can be used in several industries as they can be used to produce cosmetics, compost, pellets, biofuels, etc. 


While some industries do recognize the potential of spent coffee grounds, there are some innovative startups that truly went above and beyond. Coffeefrom uses this resource in a circular way, with a zero-waste approach. 


Coffeefrom is an Italian company that was born in 2019, it is based in Milan and it brought an innovative, extremely versatile, and sustainable material of biological origin material on the market. This material is made using spent coffee grounds of industrial origin, in a truly sustainable and circular fashion.


Coffeefrom is the second circular economy spin-off launched by a local cooperative, Il Giardinone Cooperativa Sociale. The first experience dates back to Expo 2015, when the team of Il Giardinone experimented with the recovery and transformation of coffee grounds from Lavazza bars, using them to cultivate fresh mushrooms. In 2016, FungoBox was launched: the kit allows for self-production of fresh mushrooms from urban coffee waste. 


Over time, the know-how of Il Giardinone in the recovery and transformation of coffee by-products strengthened and a new entrepreneurial vision was born: this is how Coffeefrom first came into existence in 2019. 


Just a few weeks ago, Coffeefrom presented its first product: a set of coffee cups made from spent coffee grounds. Ergonomic, stackable, and durable, the cups are the result of a project by the creative studioWhomade. Thanks to the refined design, which is both aesthetically pleasing and functional, the set is designed to accompany and enhance the all-Italian pleasure of tasting coffee.


Coffeefrom is also a great example of circular economy at its best because it is the result of the involvement of the scientific community, including the Polytechnic of Milan, as well as companies operating in the bioplastic chain, in a virtuous model of industrial symbiosis. 


Moreover, Coffeefrom is a truly Italian brand: starting from the selection of the industrial coffee wastes, all stages of the production process take place in Italy, thus giving further added value to its final applications. 


In the past years, the goal of this reality has been the reduction of CO2 emissions and of logistics and disposal costs. In this process, however, Coffefrom never forgot the importance of people: they keep on striving to be inclusive, putting people first, starting from the integration of fragile workers in daily activities. The main idea behind this project is to generate a positive impact on local communities, in order to spread inclusivity.


Coffefrom is therefore a great example of how the circular economy can be the most innovative and productive answer to our social and environmental problems. 


Do you want to find out more information on circular economy and its themes? Visit Tondo’s blog! And if you are interested into finding a community of companies and organizations that focus on circular economy and share experiences, knowledge and much more, join our communities of companies!

Francesco Castellano

Francesco Castellano is a seasoned business leader and strategist with over 20 years of experience spanning research, finance, consulting, and entrepreneurship. He has held impactful roles, including serving as a consultant at Bain & Company, launching Uber operations in Turin, and working as Managing Director of a Swiss start-up.In recent years, Francesco Castellano founded Tondo, a hub of... Read more

Francesco Castellano is a seasoned business leader and strategist with over 20 years of experience spanning research, finance, consulting, and entrepreneurship. He has held impactful roles, including serving as a consultant at Bain & Company, launching Uber operations in Turin, and working as Managing Director of a Swiss start-up.

In recent years, Francesco Castellano founded Tondo, a hub of organizations dedicated to promoting Circular Economy approaches and supporting companies in transitioning to sustainable and circular practices. He is also the ideator and coordinator of the Re-think Circular Economy Forum, a high-profile event held across Italy to showcase innovative Circular Economy solutions.

Francesco Castellano collaborates with European institutions, serving as an expert for the European Commission’s Circular Cities and Regions Initiative and mentoring startups in the European Institute of Innovation and Technology’s (EIT) New European Bauhaus Booster Program. Through these roles, he actively supports the development and scaling of circular economy ventures across Europe.

He is also a sought-after speaker and lecturer, sharing his expertise on Circular Economy, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship at universities and international events. Francesco holds executive education certificates from prestigious institutions such as MIT, Harvard, and the University of Virginia, further solidifying his credentials in strategy, sustainability, and innovation.

Fluent in Italian, English, and Spanish, Francesco Castellano combines his diverse skill set with a passion for Circular Economy, Cleantech Innovations, and Entrepreneurship. His strong background in Corporate Strategy, Sustainability, Innovation Development, and Finance enables him to drive impactful change in every initiative he undertakes.

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