Bio-bean facts for kids
 |
|
| Private | |
| Industry |
|
| Fate | Acquired in 2023 |
| Founded | London, England 2013 |
| Founder | Arthur Kay |
| Headquarters | Cambridgeshire, England |
| Products |
|
|
Number of employees
|
45 |
Bio-bean was a company that found a clever way to recycle used coffee grounds. They turned this waste into special fuels called biofuels and biomass pellets. These products could be used to create heat or even power vehicles.
The company started in London, England, in 2013. Its founder was Arthur Kay. Bio-bean built the world's first factory dedicated to recycling coffee waste in Cambridgeshire. In 2014, they won a big prize of £400,000 from the Postcode Lottery Green Challenge. By 2022, Bio-bean was recognized as a "B Corp Best in the World Environment" for its positive impact. In 2023, another company bought Bio-bean's assets.
Contents
How Bio-bean Started
Bio-bean's idea came from Arthur Kay when he was studying architecture at The Bartlett, University College London (UCL). He noticed how much coffee was wasted every day. Arthur decided to create a company to turn these waste coffee grounds into useful fuels.
Bio-bean collected used coffee grounds from many places. They worked with hundreds of coffee shops, restaurants, office buildings, and even coffee factories.
Growing and Making an Impact
Arthur's idea quickly gained support and won awards. Important groups like the Mayor of London, UCL, Tata, Santander, and Shell helped the company. Bio-bean became part of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation CE100, which focuses on circular economies. Their products were even shown at The Science Museum.
In 2015, Bio-bean opened its large factory. It was big enough to process 50,000 tonnes of coffee waste each year. Arthur Kay became the youngest "Guardian Sustainable Business Leader of the Year" in 2015.
Powering London Buses
A major project happened in 2017. Bio-bean worked with Shell, Argent Energy, and Transport for London. They created a special biodiesel fuel using used coffee grounds. This fuel was then used to help power London's buses! This amazing project was featured in news around the world, including the BBC and New York Times.
What Happened to Bio-bean?
In March 2023, Bio-bean faced challenges, including rising costs and a factory fire. In July 2023, Envar Composting Ltd, another large UK company, bought Bio-bean's assets. This means Bio-bean's work and ideas continue under new ownership.
Biofuels from Coffee
Bio-bean's main products were second-generation biofuels. This means they were made from waste materials. They created "Coffee Logs" and biomass pellets from used coffee grounds. These products could be burned in special boilers to provide heat in a sustainable way.
The company also made briquettes and barbecue charcoal from coffee waste. Bio-bean did a lot of research to find even more uses for waste coffee grounds and other organic waste.
See also
