Circular economy action with Sumida Ward’s Coffeeloop Cup

The “Coffeeloop Project” has teamed up with Sumida Ward in Tokyo to launch a reusable cup made from coffee grounds collected from local cafes and businesses. The cups are set to be used in cafes from December, as part of the project’s aim to build a circular economy and promote sustainable resource use within the ward.

The “Sumida Coffeeloop Project” is a collaboration between the Coffeeloop Project and Sumida Ward’s Resource and Environment Department. Coffee grounds will be collected from cafes in the ward and used to make the Coffeeloop Cup, featuring the project’s original logo.

The collection of coffee grounds will be handled by welfare workshops in Sumida Ward, providing employment opportunities for people with disabilities. Collection will begin in October, with manufacturing starting in November, and the cups will be used in cafes from mid-December.

Once the cups have been used multiple times and show signs of wear and tear, they will be collected by Asahi Yours, the company behind the Coffeeloop Project. Depending on their condition, the cups will either be recycled or repainted to create new cups for reuse.

The Sumida Coffeeloop Project aims to recruit more cafes and companies that support the initiative and help build a circular economy in the ward.

The Coffeeloop Project was launched by Asahi Yours with the goal of upcycling coffee by-products from offices and cafes nationwide. In April, coffee grounds from employee cafes in office buildings in Tokyo were used to make the first Coffeeloop Cup. In July, the project expanded to include coffee grounds from hotels operated by JR West Japan Hotel Development. The coffee grounds were used to create a Coffeeloop Cup featuring the hotel’s original logo, which was then introduced in guest lounges for overnight guests.

Ajinomoto AGF Corporation has also joined the project, working together to expand the introduction of the Coffeeloop Cup and collaborating on the development of upcycled products using coffee by-products generated during coffee variety changes at the company’s factory.

The Coffeeloop Cup is made from coffee grounds, wood flour from thinned timber, and recycled polypropylene. The polypropylene is sourced from unused scraps generated at Menicon Co., Ltd.’s contact lens factory, meaning no new plastic is used in the production of the cups. The cups are coated with lacquer by artisans from Yamanaka to ensure they are durable enough to withstand commercial dishwashers.