How to Embrace the Circular Economy While Drinking Coffee?

When enjoying a cup of coffee, we rarely stop to think about the cup it’s served in. Yet today, coffee shops most commonly use three materials: plastic, polystyrene, and paper or cardboard, but, do these materials contribute to the circular economy?

At first glance, one might assume plastic is the most toxic or harmful of the three. However, both polystyrene and paper/cardboard cups have significant environmental drawbacks.

Paper and Polystyrene: Our Inspiration to Promote a Circular Economy

The environmental impact of disposable cups is alarming. Each year, the production of 16 billion paper cups leads to the cutting down of 6.5 million trees and generates a carbon footprint of approximately 110 grams of CO2 per cup (including its sleeve).

Polystyrene cups, on the other hand, take up to 500 years to decompose and emit about 33 grams of CO2 during their production.

Considering that the U.S. produces enough polystyrene to generate 21 million tons of CO2 annually—a figure comparable to the emissions of 4.5 million cars—the cumulative impact of these disposable materials is devastating for the planet.

(Data sourced from the article The Disposable Cup Crisis: What’s the Environmental Impact of a To-Go Coffee? by The Guardian.)

Why Is the Circular Economy Important Today?

Our planet needs us, and it’s vital to create solutions and products that contribute to a healthier planet while improving our quality of life in the face of climate change.

A great example of the importance of the circular economy is Australia. According to the government website, all of Australia’s environment ministers have committed to working with the private sector to eradicate waste and pollution, extend the life cycle of materials, and strengthen markets to establish a circular economy by 2030.

This step towards a circular economy is innovative, challenging, ambitious, and ultimately beneficial for everyone.

When governments like Australia’s take initiatives like these, it inspires us to make our coffee ground-based products more relevant in our main markets: the United States and Colombia.

Examples of Circular Economy Initiatives Today

While the circular economy may seem like a distant concept, it is already being implemented more widely than one might think, with major industries embracing this sustainable approach.

AB InBev

According to the World Economic Forum, the world’s largest brewery aims to ensure that by 2025, 100% of its products will be sold in returnable packaging or packaging made primarily of recycled materials.

Schneider Electric

One of the world’s largest companies in heavy machinery and digital energy transformation has committed to using organic content and recycled materials in its products. Additionally, through leasing and pay-per-use programs, it is extending the lifecycle of products that were previously single-use.

IKEA

The Swedish multinational is a prime example of a circular economy. Its furniture return program allows old or near-discarded furniture to be given a second life, transforming the material into entirely new furniture and preventing waste from polluting the planet.

Why Is Coffee Kreis a Great Example of the Circular Economy?

The answer is The Kreis Way.

Our circular economy model begins by collecting used coffee grounds from coffee shops, restaurants, and hotels—an element typically discarded. We repurpose this waste to create something entirely new.

Next, we sort the material to ensure it meets the quality standards expected by our customers. The coffee grounds then go through filtering and drying processes.

To ensure durability and strength in each of our products, we combine the filtered material with plant-based organic elements, making it resistant to heat and impact.

This process helps reduce waste and turns what is often considered garbage into something valuable.

Discover Coffee Kreis and Our Circular Economy Proposal

We love our planet, and as a company, we believe the future lies in the circular economy—while you enjoy your coffee.

Inspired by nature and committed to being an example of the circular economy, we created the Kreis Latte Cup x2, a sustainable and innovative solution.

Discover all our products here. We are a Colombian startup aiming to make a global impact by crafting coffee cups and plates made from coffee grounds.