Innovation

The goal is to return coffee to the earth. Coffee consumption generates chaff which could be reused as fertilizer, raw material, cosmetic use, among others and most consumers are unaware of this potential. This type of reuse makes coffee a good example of circular economy in which almost all of the value chain, starting from suppliers to consumers, participate.

Inspiration

OXXO is committed to society and the environment, and aligned with the vision of zero waste for 2030. It sees an opportunity to better manage its waste which results from coffee preparation in its stores. OXXO hopes to be able to reuse the coffee straw by packaging it and giving it to its customers, to use it mainly as fertilizer, returning the coffee to the ground. The foregoing is in line with the environmental standard NADF-024-AMBT-2013 that dictates the criteria and technical specifications under which the segregation, classification, selective collection and storage of the city's waste must be carried out. This standard began in July 2017 when four categories for waste segregation: organic; inorganic, recyclable; inorganic, non-recyclable; and special and considerable handling. Within the organic category, coffee straw is included as a material that can be used well.

Overall impact

This project is already underway in 24 stores and has received great consumer response. Daily, six bags of coffee chaff are displayed and five customers take the bags. Sixteen stores have surveyed their customers who all like the project. Most clients are from residential areas.

Business benefit

Thanks to the good response of this project, OXXO hopes to reduce the generation of waste and its handling costs. In the places where this initiative has been implemented, there has been a monthly economic saving of 600 Mexican pesos average per store in the area of ​​waste disposal. With more than 19,000 stores in operation nationwide, this would represent a potential profit of 11.4 million Mexican pesos per month.

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Social and environmental benefit

The main benefits are the positive impact generated on the environment and the communities in which it is present, promoting the reuse and recycling of coffee waste with its customers, the link generated with local authorities and civil organizations through this initiative and community engagement through the free delivery of coffee bags to OXXO customers for use in their homes or community areas.

This innovation contribute with two SDGs:

• 12. Responsable consumption and production
• 13. Climate action

Interview

Abraham Garza Álvarez, Circular economy for Coffee Chaff

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