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Coffee waste 'could replace palm oil' | Coffee waste 'could replace palm oil' |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A pair of Scottish entrepreneurs are aiming to go global with their hope to replace palm oil using coffee waste. | A pair of Scottish entrepreneurs are aiming to go global with their hope to replace palm oil using coffee waste. |
Scott Kennedy and Fergus Moore said they came up with a unique way to extract oil from used coffee grounds which had a wide range of uses. | Scott Kennedy and Fergus Moore said they came up with a unique way to extract oil from used coffee grounds which had a wide range of uses. |
Palm oil is found in many household products, but environmentalists say demand for it is devastating rainforests in Asia. | Palm oil is found in many household products, but environmentalists say demand for it is devastating rainforests in Asia. |
Manufacturers are now under pressure to find an alternative. | Manufacturers are now under pressure to find an alternative. |
Mr Kennedy and Mr Moore came up with their idea while working in coffee shops during their time studying business at Glasgow's Strathclyde university, and saw first-hand the amount of food waste in the hospitality industry. | Mr Kennedy and Mr Moore came up with their idea while working in coffee shops during their time studying business at Glasgow's Strathclyde university, and saw first-hand the amount of food waste in the hospitality industry. |
Mr Moore told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme: "About 60% of a cafe's waste is about coffee grounds. | Mr Moore told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme: "About 60% of a cafe's waste is about coffee grounds. |
"In Scotland, that amounts to about 40,000 tonnes a year - across the UK, more than half a million tonnes. | "In Scotland, that amounts to about 40,000 tonnes a year - across the UK, more than half a million tonnes. |
"And coffee grounds are so heavy that it takes their waste bill through the roof." | "And coffee grounds are so heavy that it takes their waste bill through the roof." |
Explaining the idea behind his Revive Eco company, Mr Moore said: "There are oils in coffee with a wide range of uses in different industries - cosmetics pharmaceuticals, food and drink, household products - you name it, there's probably a use there. | Explaining the idea behind his Revive Eco company, Mr Moore said: "There are oils in coffee with a wide range of uses in different industries - cosmetics pharmaceuticals, food and drink, household products - you name it, there's probably a use there. |
"We're developing a process to extract and purify these oils." | "We're developing a process to extract and purify these oils." |
Mr Moore added: "The most exciting part for us is that they have all the same components as palm. | Mr Moore added: "The most exciting part for us is that they have all the same components as palm. |
"Palm oil's in the news for all the wrong reasons. It's really exciting for us that we could potentially provide a local and more sustainable alternative to all the industries that are currently using palm oil." | "Palm oil's in the news for all the wrong reasons. It's really exciting for us that we could potentially provide a local and more sustainable alternative to all the industries that are currently using palm oil." |
Mr Moore said it had been difficult setting up the company because he and his business partner were not from an engineering background, but added: "We've surrounded ourselves with incredible advisors and mentors that have made the process easier." | Mr Moore said it had been difficult setting up the company because he and his business partner were not from an engineering background, but added: "We've surrounded ourselves with incredible advisors and mentors that have made the process easier." |
Revive Eco has already secured £235,000 of funding from the Zero Waste Scotland agency. | Revive Eco has already secured £235,000 of funding from the Zero Waste Scotland agency. |
And now they are in the running for a share of a £776,000 funding pot, after it was announced Revive Eco would be representing Scotland and Northern Ireland in the Chivas Venture competition. | And now they are in the running for a share of a £776,000 funding pot, after it was announced Revive Eco would be representing Scotland and Northern Ireland in the Chivas Venture competition. |
Twenty global companies are competing for the prize, being announced in Amsterdam in May, after an online public vote. | Twenty global companies are competing for the prize, being announced in Amsterdam in May, after an online public vote. |
Mr Moore said of the company's ambition: "We want to have the process up and running in Glasgow by next summer. | Mr Moore said of the company's ambition: "We want to have the process up and running in Glasgow by next summer. |
Longer term, we want to build the business to a place where we can franchise into different countries and replicate the business model elsewhere. | Longer term, we want to build the business to a place where we can franchise into different countries and replicate the business model elsewhere. |
"We'd rather build a new process in Rome, Paris, Berlin - any other big coffee-drinking cities round the world." | "We'd rather build a new process in Rome, Paris, Berlin - any other big coffee-drinking cities round the world." |
For the latest business news as it happens, follow BBC presenter Andrew Black's updates each weekday morning on BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme between 06:00 and 09:00. | For the latest business news as it happens, follow BBC presenter Andrew Black's updates each weekday morning on BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme between 06:00 and 09:00. |