Abstract
One of the major challenges decision and policy makers face when trying to introduce sustainable food waste management strategies is to isolate high value waste material. In our paper we assess whether it is logistically, economically and socially feasible to isolate exhaust coffee grounds from the catering industry in one British district and use them as raw material for a novel process to produce alternative high added value products in a near-perfect circular economy cycle making use of reverse logistics and generating near-zero waste. We chose coffee as the product because it is the most traded food commodity in the world, and the second most traded commodity in general, which makes the impact of the outcomes particularly significant. Due to resource and time constraints we had to limit the range of high added value products and to constrain the geographic area, hence we focused on the production of high quality compost for the amateur and professional growers market and on the geographic catchment area of the York municipal waste collection service. To do so, we developed a series of theoretical scenarios corresponding to the different possible logistic and process options that stakeholders could identify and we evaluated the economic indicators. We conclude that the process is technically feasible with available technology within current infrastructure and modest investments and the economic case is very attractive to investors. The outcomes of our research can be used as a model for similar developments in other geographical areas.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Notes
- 1.
Information available at http://mbdc.com/certification-overview.
- 2.
In a qualitative way.
- 3.
Additional material on the approach is available on the dedicated website at http://www.alchemy.info.
- 4.
It must be noted that whilst the City of York, which is the catchment area in our case study, has organised a green composting reprocessing plant where organic waste is transformed into generic low grade and low quality compost, many other catchment areas do not have such facilities.
- 5.
At the time of writing, see Valuation Office Agency (2011).
References
Allen J (2007) Cradle-to-Cradle. Achieving the vision through remanufacturing. Available at http://www1.calrecycle.ca.gov/Archive/IWMBMtgDocs/mtgdocs/2008/05/00023461.pdf. Accessed 29 May 2016
Braungart M (2000) Cradle to Cradle®. Mc GrawHill
Cooper T (1999) Creating an economic infrastructure for sustainable product design. J Sustain Prod Des 7–17
Daily GC (1997) Nature’s services, societal dependence on natural ecosystems. Island Press, California
De Groot RS, Wilson MA, Boumans RM (2002) A typology for the classification, description and valuation of ecosystem functions, goods and services. Ecol Econ 41:393–408
DIY (2012) Notcutts promotes benefits of coffee as garden fertiliser. Available at http://www.diyweek.net/news/news.asp?id=15480&title=Notcutts+promotes+benefits+of+coffee+as+garden+fertiliser. Accessed 1 Aug 2013
Eliche-Quesada D, Pérez-Villarejo L, Iglesias-Godino FJ, MartÃnez-GarcÃa C, Corpas-Iglesias FA (2011) Incorporation of coffee grounds into clay brick production. Adv Appl Ceram 110:225–232
Elkington J (1997) Cannibals with forks. The triple bottom line of 21st century business. New Society Publishers. Oxford
EMF (2012) Towards the circular economy vol. 1: an economic and business rationale for an accelerated transition. Available online at https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/publications/towards-the-circular-economy-vol-1-an-economic-and-business-rationale-for-an-accelerated-transition
EMF (2013) Towards the circular economy vol. 2: opportunities for the consumer goods sector. Available online at https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/publications/towards-the-circular-economy-vol-2-opportunities-for-the-consumer-goods-sector
EMF (2014) Towards the circular economy vol. 3: accelerating the scale-up across global supply chains. Available online at https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/publications/towards-the-circular-economy-vol-3-accelerating-the-scale-up-across-global-supply-chains
European Commission (2015) Communication from the commission to the European parliament, the council, the European economic and social committee and the committee of the regions closing the loop—An EU action plan for the Circular Economy
Haines-Young R, Potschin M (2010) Proposal for a common international classification of ecosystem goods and services (CICES) for integrated environmental and economic accounting
Haines-Young R, Potschin M (2011) Common international classification of ecosystem services (CICES): 2011 Update
Haines-Young R, Potschin M (2013a) CICES V4. 3–Revised report prepared following consultation on CICES Version 4, August-December 2012. EEA Framework Contract No EEA. IEA/09/003
Haines-Young R, Potschin M (2013b) Common international classification of ecosystem services (CICES): consultation on version 4, August-December 2012
International Coffee Council (2014) World coffee trade (1963–2013): a review of the markets, challenges and opportunities facing the sector. International Coffee Organisation, London, England, Great Britain
International Coffee Organisation (2016a) Exports by crop year. International Coffee Organisation, London, England, Great Britain. http://www.ico.org/historical/1990%20onwards/PDF/1e-exports.pdf. Accessed on 1 Apr 2016
International Coffee Organisation (2016b) Total production by crop year. International Coffee Organisation, London, England, Great Britain. http://www.ico.org/historical/1990%20onwards/PDF/1a-total-production.pdf. Accessed on 1 Apr 2016
Kumar S, Putnam V (2008) Cradle to cradle: Reverse logistics strategies and opportunities across three industry sectors. Int J Prod Econ Inst Perspect Supply Chain Manag 115:305–315. doi:10.1016/j.ijpe.2007.11.015
Lehmann M, de Leeuw B, Fehr E, Wong A (2014) Circular economy. Improving the management of natural resources: Swiss academies of arts and sciences. Available online at http://www.satw.ch/publikationen/schriften/kreislaufwirtschaft/a__circulareconomy_with_references_EN.pdf
Lin CSK, Pfaltzgraff LA, Herrero-Davila L, Mubofu EB, Abderrahim S, Clark JH, Koutinas AA, Kopsahelis N, Stamatelatou K, Dickson F et al (2013) Food waste as a valuable resource for the production of chemicals, materials and fuels. Current situation and global perspective. Energy Environ Sci 6:426–464
Liu K, Price GW (2011) Evaluation of three composting systems for the management of spent coffee grounds. Bioresour Technol 102:7966–7974
Machine Solutions (2015) Cardboard shredders, corrugated shredders, cardboard box shredders, carton shredder [WWW Document]. http://www.machine-solution.com/Cushion-Pack-PacMasters-Cardboard-Box-Shredders. Accessed 20 Feb 2015
McCloskey International Ltd. (2015) Mobile crushers, vibratory screeners, trommel screens, and stacking conveyors for the recycling and aggregate industries—512 A/R Trommel Screener [WWW Document]. http://www.mccloskeyinternational.com/trommel-screeners-512-ar.php. Accessed 20 Feb 2015
McDonough W, Braungart M (2010) Cradle to cradle: remaking the way we make things. MacMillan
Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (2005a) Ecosystems and human well-being: synthesis
Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (2005b) Ecosystems and human well-being: biodiversity synthesis
Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (2005c) Ecosystems and human well-being: opportunities and challenges for business and industry
Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (2005d) Ecosystems and human well-being. The World Resources Institute, Washington DC
Ng SW, Ni Mhurchu C, Jebb SA, Popkin BM (2012) Patterns and trends of beverage consumption among children and adults in Great Britain, 1986–2009. Br J Nutr 108:536–551
Nikolaou IE, Evangelinos KI, Allan S (2013) A reverse logistics social responsibility evaluation framework based on the triple bottom line approach. J Clean Prod Sustain Manag Beyond Corp Bound 56:173–184. doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2011.12.009
Norman W, Macdonald C (2004) Getting to the bottom of triple bottom line. Bus Ethics Q 14:46–54
Organics Recycling Group (2009) Buyers’ guide: screening and bagging equipment. Available at http://www.organics-recycling.org.uk/uploads/article1762/Screening%20and%20Bagging%20guide.pdf. Accessed 19 Aug 2013
Parfitt J, Barthel M, Macnaughton S (2010) Food waste within food supply chains: quantification and potential for change to 2050. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 365:3065–3081. doi:10.1098/rstb.2010.0126
Pfaltzgraff LA, Cooper EC, Budarin V, Clark JH et al (2013) Food waste biomass: a resource for high-value chemicals. Green Chem 15:307–314
Pokharel S, Mutha A (2009) Perspectives in reverse logistics: a review. Resour Conserv Recycl 53:175–182
Rynk R, Kamp M, Willson G, Singley M, Richard T, Kolega J, Gouin F, Laliberty L, Kay D, Murphy S, Hoitink H, Brinton W (1992) On-Farm composting handbook. Coperative Extension, New York
Sarkis J, Helms MM, Hervani AA (2010) Reverse logistics and social sustainability. Corp Soc Responsib Environ Manag 17:337–354. doi:10.1002/csr.220
Stahel WR (2016) The circular economy. Nature 531:435
Taranic I, Behrens A, Rizos V, Topi C (2016) (forthcoming) Understanding circular economy: from resource efficiency to sharing platforms. CEPS Policy Brief. CEPS. Brussels
Topi C (2015) Towards a blueprint for the development of integrated green transition strategies at the local level. University of York, York, UK
Topi C, Vega Barbero J, Ghosh A, Bilinska M (2016) Embedding ecosystem services in private enterprises: a novel participatory collaborative approach. In submission
UK National Ecosystem Assessment (2011) The UK national ecosystem assessment technical report. UNEP-WCMC, Cambridge, UK
Valuation Office Agency (2011) Property market report 2011: the annual guide to the property market across England, Wales and Scotland. Available at http://www.voa.gov.uk/dvs/_downloads/pmr_2011.pdf
Walsh J (2011) Britain’s caffeine boom: Why can’t we wake up without smelling the coffee? The independent. Available at http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/features/britains-caffeine-boom-why-cant-we-wake-up-without-smelling-the-coffee-2342104.html. Accessed 3 July 2013
Woodbury P, Breslin V (1996) Municipal solid waste composting: key aspects of compost quality assurance. Cornell Waste Management Institute. Available at http://compost.css.cornell.edu/MSWFactSheets/msw.fs7.html. 27 Aug 2013
Zhijun F, Nailing Y (2007) Putting a circular economy into practice in China. Sustain Sci 2:95–101. doi:10.1007/s11625-006-0018-1
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2017 Springer International Publishing AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Topi, C., Bilinska, M. (2017). The Economic Case for the Circular Economy: From Food Waste to Resource. In: Morone, P., Papendiek, F., Tartiu, V. (eds) Food Waste Reduction and Valorisation. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-50088-1_3
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-50088-1_3
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-50087-4
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-50088-1
eBook Packages: EnergyEnergy (R0)