Coffee waste gets a second life as stronger, low-emission bricks in Australia

Australian researchers at Swinburne University of Technology, led by Dr. Yat Wong, have developed sustainable bricks made from spent coffee grounds (SCGs), offering a significant reduction in construction-related carbon emissions. By blending coffee waste with clay and an alkali activator, these bricks can be fired at just 200°C—about 80% lower than traditional brick firing temperatures—resulting in up to an 80% reduction in electricity-related CO₂ emissions per unit. This innovation not only diverts large quantities of coffee waste from landfills, thereby reducing methane emissions, but also produces bricks that exceed Australian minimum strength standards, making them both environmentally friendly and durable. Globally, around nine million tonnes of ground coffee are consumed annually, generating approximately 18 million tonnes of wet SCGs, much of which ends up in landfills contributing to greenhouse gas emissions. In Australia alone, over 1.3 million cups of coffee are sold daily, producing about 10,000 tonnes of coffee