A winning coffee blend
The team behind this Australian concrete-coffee combo has taken out a people's choice award in Canberra.
Repurposing this everyday ingredient to create stronger concrete has helped RMIT University bag a national award.
The groundbreaking research has earned the University a People's Choice award in the 'Problem Solver' category at the 2024 Shaping Australia Awards run by Universities Australia.
As the peak body representing Australia’s 39 universities, University Australia's six award-winners were unveiled this week at Parliament House in Canberra, highlighting the research, teaching and initiatives its members contribute to Australia’s future.
The RMIT team behind the coffee-infused concrete found a way to strengthen the construction material by 30 per cent using biochar derived from spent coffee grounds, transforming a common waste product into a valuable resource.
The research team, led by Dr Rajeev Roychand, developed a method that replaces a portion of the sand used in concrete with the biochar. Their breakthrough addresses two major environmental issues: reducing coffee waste sent to landfill and conserving sand – a resource that is becoming more scarce over time.
"What began as research into coffee grounds has now evolved into a comprehensive program converting various types of organic waste into biochar that could help reshape the environmental footprint of the built environment."
According to RMIT, Australia generates approximately 75,000 tonnes of coffee waste each year, contributing significantly to the country's greenhouse gas emissions.
A world-first trial of the coffee concrete was launched last year in Gisborne, Victoria, with the material now being used in some of the state’s Big Build infrastructure projects. It has also been showcased at the Futurium museum in Germany.
Dr Roychand said winning a national award was recognition of his team's vision to transform waste materials into valuable construction resources.
“What began as research into coffee grounds has now evolved into a comprehensive program converting various types of organic waste into biochar that could help reshape the environmental footprint of the built environment,” he said.
Sand substitute
The team’s research not only helps to improve the strength of concrete but could also play a crucial role in addressing the global sand shortage, with demand for the resource projected to increase by 45 per cent over the next 40 years.
“We’re not only addressing waste management but also helping preserve this increasingly scarce natural resource,” said Dr Mohammad Saberian, another key researcher on the project.
Following the success of its biochar research, the RMIT team has developed partnerships with Ambiolock in Australia and C-Green in Sweden to advance high durability, low-carbon biochar-based materials for use in sustainable construction.
As well as these partnerships, RMIT says it's also pursuing commercialisation opportunities as it builds a business case with key partners in the construction and agriculture sectors.
Reinventing concrete
Cement and concrete production are estimated to generate around 8 per cent of global carbon emissions, revealing a pressing need for more sustainable approaches to construction.
Last year, the world’s first building made entirely from recycled concrete was completed. The Recygénie housing complex in Gennevilliers, France was built in collaboration with Seqens and Holcim using a custom concrete made from 100% recycled aggregates, cement, and water that was sourced from construction demolition materials and recycled wastewater.
RMIT engineers have developed a method to strengthen concrete with spent coffee grounds allowing them to replace 15% of the sand that is traditionally used in the process. Before they can be used, the coffee grounds must first be transformed into biochar in what RMIT researchers describe as a low-energy process. This involves heating organic waste in the absence of oxygen at 350℃ in a process known as pyrolysis that results in a 30% stronger concrete. The coffee-based biochar also reduces the environmental impact of coffee waste, which contributes significantly to landfill emissions.
