Scientists Discover Coffee Waste Can Make Concrete Stronger and More Eco-Friendly
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A new study suggests that leftover coffee grounds could play
a surprising role in making concrete both tougher and more environmentally
friendly. Scientists at RMIT University have found that turning used coffee
grounds into a specialised form of biochar can significantly strengthen
concrete while cutting its carbon footprint.
How Coffee Biochar Reinforces Concrete
The research team heated discarded coffee grounds to high
temperatures—around 350°C—in an oxygen-free chamber to produce a finely
textured biochar.
When this material replaced up to 15% of the sand in a concrete mix, the
resulting structure gained nearly 30% more strength after 28 days.
By reducing reliance on natural sand—one of the world’s most
extracted raw materials—coffee-based biochar offers a promising circular
alternative. Life-cycle analysis from the team shows that using biochar can
reduce carbon emissions by 15–26%, while lowering fossil-fuel use by up
to 31%.
These findings aren’t just theoretical. The
coffee-reinforced concrete has already been tested in real-world trials,
including a footpath installation and a section of an infrastructure upgrade in
Victoria.
A Step Toward Cleaner Construction
Construction is responsible for a large portion of global
emissions—nearly 37%, with cement alone contributing about 8%.
Innovative approaches like biochar-enhanced concrete align with global pushes
toward greener, circular materials.
By replacing portions of sand or cement with recycled
components such as fly ash, slag, or coffee-derived biochar, builders can
reduce embodied carbon, conserve natural resources, and move the industry
closer to net-zero goals.
#CoffeeBiochar #GreenConstruction #SustainableBuilding
#ClimateTech #EcoInnovation #RMITResearch #CircularEconomy #ConcreteTech
#TechMintora #EnvironmentalScience
