SEOUL, South Korea – Starbucks Coffee Korea Co. has announced plans to recycle more than 5,500 tons of coffee grounds with an aim to achieve recycle rate of 97 percent by the end of this year. The company began recording the quantity of coffee grounds it was recycling in 2014 and has been distributing eco-friendly fertilizers made from recycled coffee grounds to local farms since 2015.
In April 2016, it signed an agreement with the Ministry of Environment and the Korea Zero Waste Movement Network to establish a coffee grounds recycling network connecting all of the company’s stores in South Korea.
Starbucks plans to use 3,609 tons of coffee grounds collected this year to make compost, 1,200 tons to give out to customers, and 600 tons to make fertilizer.
The company has already used 10 tons to make eco-friendly flower pots and 30 tons for biofuel research and sampling.
With its final goal of a 100 percent recycle rate by 2020, Starbucks has been in constant search of new recycling channels.
“Coffee grounds are abundant with nitrogen, phosphoric acid, potassium, and other minerals that help plants grow,” said Starbucks. “They help repel blights and other harmful insects and provide highly organic nutrients to plants.”
