Dmitry Bidyuk, a teacher at Sumy National Agrarian University, together with his colleague Yuri Tustanovsky, used... coffee grounds as raw material for coffee cups. The main motive for their choice was that the remains of the drink are almost never used in Ukraine and in the world. The grounds are a waste that pollutes the environment, although they can have a practical application.

The founders named the startup “rekava”: from the words “recycling” (processing) and “kava” (the name of the drink that served as the basis for their product). Lviv enterprises and establishments became suppliers of raw materials for “rekava”. Production begins with processing and cleaning the grounds, since they cannot be used if they are wet or smell like coffee. A corn hydrobarrier inside the cup helps remove coffee odors. Properly applied technology gives a light, pleasant aroma of grains when pouring water into such tableware.

“Rekava” is currently focused on creating candle containers from recycled coffee grounds. To make one such sample (including the vessel and lid itself) requires 150 grams of raw materials, which is equal to 10 servings of coffee. The production of tableware, such as cups, requires less volume, because such containers are thinner. This is approximately 3-4 standard cups of coffee.

Making candles and cups has its own characteristics. Containers for candles do not come into contact with food. The main requirement is to withstand high temperatures (up to 100-110 degrees). For comparison, ordinary cups should not deform at a temperature of 90 degrees.

To follow the principles of zero waste in candle production, their creators decided to replace metal wick holders with bioceramics made from eggshells. It serves as a barrier against ignition of the container and wick holder. Bioceramics decompose and can be converted into mineral fertilizers, becoming a source of calcium for plants.

If the cups and candles have already been used, they can be thrown into organic waste for later recycling. And containers for candles can be flower pots.

Coffee grounds have a wide range of uses in different areas of human activity. So, it can be used as a fertilizer for plants, a means to repel garden pests and an air freshener. Also in cosmetology, where it is part of anti-cellulite masks, face and body scrubs or balms against hair loss.

In addition, coffee grounds are used to combat ice crust. It is safe for the environment and shoes, and is an excellent alternative to chemicals used to melt ice in winter. Natural raw materials attract sunlight, which contributes to faster melting of snow. This property of coffee grounds was successfully tested in Lviv, Konotop, Irpin, Poltava.

Coffee grounds were used as the basis for their products by representatives of another Ukrainian startup — the Ochis company, which creates the world's first eco-friendly glasses. The frame for them is made from used coffee. The founder of the company, Maxim Gavrilenko, experimented with raw materials and composition and decided to use coffee waste. Making eyeglass frames from coffee grounds is a complex, multi-step process that includes harvesting, drying, inhibiting, processing and pressing the coffee grounds. The manufacture of the frame and case requires about 150 grams of grounds. The Ochis company uses only high-quality coffee from trusted coffee shops, where the drink is prepared using a certain technology.

Eco-friendly glasses also use unusual lenses made from cellulose triacetate.

— Our glasses have no impact on the environment. Within 10 years, they completely decompose in soil or water without any consequences for nature, — notes “Ochis Coffee”.

Another project aimed at reducing the negative impact on the environment has a similar mission. Ukrainian student Valentin Frechka realized that it is not necessary to cut down forests to produce paper, and decided to use fallen leaves.

He collects them, boils them, extracts the pulp and forms paper sheets. Thanks to this technology, it is possible to produce 1.5 tons of paper with a density of 90 and 100 g/m², a thickness of 0.2 mm and a punching resistance value of 285 kPa. The idea solves several problems in a row: it reduces deforestation, uses fallen leaves and reduces the cost of paper production.

Paper made from fallen leaves is durable enough for writing and drawing. In addition, it can be used to make eco-packages.

The “S.Lab — Sustainable Laboratory” company, the founder of which is Yulia Byaletskaya , makes packaging from... mushrooms. Experts from the M.G. Kholodny Institute of Botany in Kyiv helped with the start of production of S.Lab. They gave information on how to grow mycomaterial and conducted a short training on how to cultivate mycelium.

This material can be used to make various things, in particular building materials, decor and tableware. For now, S.Lab is focused on producing an environmentally friendly substitute for polystyrene or foamed plastic, used, for example, to wrap fragile items when sent by mail. Each product has its own shape and size. During the manufacturing process, the packaging literally grows, just like mushrooms grow in the natural environment. Growing mycelium takes about 3-4 days.

The company's clients are mainly sellers of cosmetics, care products, decorative items, electronics, food, shoes and toys. In short, these are representatives of different business segments who sell goods that require protection during delivery to consumers.

Mycelium packaging is considered reusable. There are several options for its disposal: it can be returned to S.Lab, where the company’s specialists will find a use for it in the form of new boxes, or left in the soil, where it will completely decompose within 30 days.

Now the S.Lab company is focused on developing technology for mass production of environmentally friendly packaging. It uses an automated, closed-loop production line with a high level of automation in both workflow and software. Currently, developers are working to improve the technology in order to quickly make packaging from mycelium at an affordable price.

Waste reduction and reuse are becoming important considerations for conscious manufacturers changing the way they do business. This leads to the emergence of new ideas for existing projects or the emergence of new startups. Consumers themselves are also ready to change; they are increasingly inclined to choose products with environmentally friendly packaging or products that can be recycled or reused. The goal of all these efforts is the same — to preserve our planet for future generations.