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The CirCo (Circular Coffee) Project: A Case Study on Valorization of Coffee Silverskin in the Context of Circular Economy in Italy

Author

Listed:
  • Emily Overturf

    (School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Weihenstephaner Steig, 2285354 Freising, Germany)

  • Simon Pezzutto

    (Institute for Renewable Energy, European Academy of Bolzano (EURAC Research), Viale Druso 1, 39100 Bolzano, Italy)

  • Martina Boschiero

    (Institute for Renewable Energy, European Academy of Bolzano (EURAC Research), Viale Druso 1, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
    Former collaborator of EURAC Research.)

  • Nicoletta Ravasio

    (CNR-SCITEC, via C. Golgi 19, 20133 Milan, Italy)

  • Achille Monegato

    (FAVINI srl, via Alcide De Gasperi 26, 36028 Rossano Veneto, Italy)

Abstract

Coffee silverskin (CSS) is one of the main byproducts of coffee roasting and poses a potential risk to the environment if disposed of incorrectly. Each year in Italy, over 500,000 tonnes of green coffee are imported for roasting followed by consumption or export. This results in over 7500 tonnes of CSS produced each year which is typically disposed of as solid waste. Silverskin contains lignocellulose and can be used as a substitute for other raw materials to produce paper pulp. Both Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Life Cycle Costing (LCC) were performed to compare the impact and cost of CSS paper production to conventional paper production using only virgin pulp. It was shown that the addition of CSS reduces the environmental impact of paper production by 10% and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 13% compared to conventional production with no cost increase (0.01% reduction with addition of CSS) for the producer. The results of this case study show that the utilization of CSS for paper production at the national level in Italy represents a suitable example of circular economy (CE).

Suggested Citation

  • Emily Overturf & Simon Pezzutto & Martina Boschiero & Nicoletta Ravasio & Achille Monegato, 2021. "The CirCo (Circular Coffee) Project: A Case Study on Valorization of Coffee Silverskin in the Context of Circular Economy in Italy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-17, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:16:p:9069-:d:613931
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Boschiero, Martina & Kelderer, Markus & Schmitt, Armin O. & Andreotti, Carlo & Zerbe, Stefan, 2015. "Influence of agricultural residues interpretation and allocation procedures on the environmental performance of bioelectricity production – A case study on woodchips from apple orchards," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 147(C), pages 235-245.
    2. Simon Pezzutto & Silvia Croce & Stefano Zambotti & Lukas Kranzl & Antonio Novelli & Pietro Zambelli, 2019. "Assessment of the Space Heating and Domestic Hot Water Market in Europe—Open Data and Results," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-16, May.
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    Cited by:

    1. Giuliana Ansanelli & Gabriella Fiorentino & Rosaria Chifari & Karin Meisterl & Enrica Leccisi & Amalia Zucaro, 2023. "Sustainability Assessment of Coffee Silverskin Waste Management in the Metropolitan City of Naples (Italy): A Life Cycle Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(23), pages 1-27, November.

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