Revolutionising Concrete: Australian Engineers Use Coffee Grounds for Enhanced Strength

Brief

Discover how engineers from Australia utilise roasted used-coffee grounds in a groundbreaking method to produce concrete that’s 30% stronger, promoting sustainability and waste reduction.

Insight

Australian engineers have pioneered an ingenious method to significantly strengthen concrete by integrating roasted used-coffee grounds. This innovative approach, led by Dr Rajeev Roychand from RMIT University, promises to give coffee waste a “double shot” at life, simultaneously reducing the environmental burden of landfills.

Currently, Australia alone generates a staggering 75 million kilograms of ground coffee waste annually, the majority of which finds its way to landfills. On a global scale, the number reaches an astounding 10 billion kilograms every year. The study, released in the Journal of Cleaner Production, marks a milestone as it is the maiden research to demonstrate the potential of waste coffee grounds in enhancing concrete’s performance.

Dr Roychand’s inspiration emerged from the vision to repurpose vast quantities of coffee waste, diverting them from landfills and redirecting them into construction projects. With multiple councils already expressing interest, there’s budding enthusiasm to incorporate pyrolysed forms of varied organic wastes in upcoming infrastructure schemes.

Dr Shannon Kilmartin-Lynch, a fellow researcher, emphasised that the global construction industry can play a pivotal role in transforming this waste into an invaluable asset. Coming from an Indigenous viewpoint, she underscores the significance of a sustainable life cycle for all materials, echoing the ethos of Caring for Country.

Furthermore, the research illuminated another environmental advantage. Professor Jie Li noted that the coffee biochar derived from this process can substitute a percentage of the sand typically used in concrete. Given that a whopping 50 billion tonnes of natural sand are consumed for global construction activities annually, and recognising the environmental ramifications of sand extraction, this breakthrough promotes a circular economy, minimising organic waste and conserving natural resources.

Dr Mohammad Saberian, a co-researcher, voiced the urgent need for the construction domain to probe alternative raw materials, ensuring its long-term sustainability. The team at RMIT University has already made commendable strides, exploring a diverse array of biochars derived from multiple organic wastes for potential concrete applications.

Highlight

Currently, Australia alone generates a staggering 75 million kilograms of ground coffee waste annually, the majority of which finds its way to landfills.
On a global scale, the number reaches an astounding 10 billion kilograms every year.
The coffee biochar derived from this process can substitute a percentage of the sand typically used in concrete. Given that a whopping 50 billion tonnes of natural sand are consumed for global construction activities annually,