Circle K Latvia puts an end to coffee waste problems
The retailer has partnered with a local startup to develop a new solution that turns coffee briquettes into fire starters.
Circle K Latvia has found a solution for its coffee grounds after associating with local startup Koffeco and a research laboratory at Riga Technical University. The partnership involved the production of a prototype of coffee briquettes that can work as a fire starter as well.
“At every step of the coffee journey, we are looking for greener and more sustainable solutions. Circle K sites in Latvia sell more than 7 million coffee cups a year, which represents 90 tons of coffee waste. In collaboration with Koffeco, we can implement the final stage in the sustainable coffee life cycle and recycle coffee grounds. Customers will soon be able to purchase coffee briquettes in Latvia’s largest stores,” said Gatis Pavārs, Director of Market Development of Circle K Latvia.
The company assures that coffee briquettes have proven to be more efficient apart from being environmentally friendly. Coffee grounds release up to 25% more heat during combustion and burn 20% longer than most types of wood, the firm stated.
So far, two tons of coffee grounds have been recycled to help create this product. The coffee grounds are crushed, transformed by high temperatures, broken down, and compacted, resulting in the final product.
