Beverage giant Ito En to turn tea and coffee waste into soil-enriching biochar

Beverage giant Ito En, Ltd. has established a new circular economy model in Shizuoka Prefecture to convert used tea leaves and coffee grounds into biochar, a carbon-rich soil amendment. The initiative was developed with three local partners, and the biochar used in the company’s contract tea plantations, creating a closed-loop system for beverage by-products.

The project began full-scale operation in July this year, starting with addressing the challenge of recycling high-moisture organic waste. The company noted that the high moisture content of beverage residues typically makes stable and environmentally sound biochar production difficult. However, joint research with San Organic Research Institute Ltd. revealed that mixing used tea leaves with coffee grounds overcomes this challenge, enabling the creation of high-quality biochar.

This collaborative model involves a complete regional supply chain, with Hotei Foods Corporation, a producer of Ito En’s “Oi Ocha” tea drinks, supplying the used tea leaves. San Organic Research Institute will then manufacture the biochar by combining these leaves with coffee grounds. Finally, Akita Seicha Co., Ltd. will apply the finished biochar to the soil of tea plantations under contract with Ito En, whose tea is then used for new beverage production.

Biochar is a carbonised material made from biomass that sequesters CO2 absorbed by the original organic matter, preventing its release into the atmosphere. Its porous structure also helps improve soil by promoting root growth and increasing the absorption of fertiliser components when mixed with compost. The use of biochar in agriculture is promoted by Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries under its “Green Food System Strategy” strategy as a method for tackling global warming.

Ito En stated that through this initiative, it aims to “further expand the circle of environmental conservation and social contribution activities as a new sustainable business model within Shizuoka Prefecture.”