Noise cancelling glasses from coffee grounds ease visual stress

Japanese company “Value way” is upcycling waste coffee grounds into stylish indoor sunglasses designed to reduce visual stress and enhance the sensory experience of drinking coffee. The company is a start-up dedicated to building a circular economy around coffee, has launched its “Noi-Can Megane” (Noise-Cancelling Glasses) for general sale.

The product was developed in collaboration with RIO COFFEE, a specialty coffee shop operated by Value way CEO Toshimasa Yagi, and eyewear manufacturer Innochi Inc. The frames are made from a unique material combining carbonised coffee grounds with cotton-derived fabric, resulting in a soft and comfortable fit. The “Noise-Cancelling” feature is not one of reducing sound; the specially tinted lenses are designed to cut excessive light from artificial sources, creating a calming effect for its wearer.

The product’s sustainability features lies in its manufacturing process. The glasses are produced in Sabae City, Fukui Prefecture, a region renowned for its eyewear craftsmanship. Unlike conventional die-cutting methods that generate significant plastic waste, the Noi-Can Megane are made using high-precision injection moulding. This technique, combined with an exact mould design, minimises the need for post-production finishing and results in an extremely low-waste process.

The “Coffee 2050 Problem” was also a catalyst for the initiative, which is a forecast that climate change could halve coffee production by mid-century. Value way aims to address this challenge from the consumer side by creating a new value chain for coffee by-products.

The company also seeks to shift public engagement with environmental issues away from a sense of duty. “We want to promote solutions to social issues that start from a feeling of ‘wanting to do it’ because it is ‘fun’ or ‘looks interesting,’ rather than from a sense of obligation,” the company stated in its press release. It is also involved in calculating the carbon footprint of the coffee supply chain and developing regenerative agriculture practices by returning carbonised coffee grounds to farmland.

Following a successful crowdfunding campaign, the Noi-Can Megane are now available online and at the RIO COFFEE shop in Ashiya, Hyogo Prefecture, with prices starting from 18,000 yen. A new Wellington-style frame has been added to the original Boston model.