In the packaging and textile industries, there is a growing demand for environmentally friendly production methods as regulations tighten. In this recent circular economy pilot, a bio-based dye produced from Meira’s roasted coffee by-products was used in flexographic printing on fiber-based packaging. The innovation offers a scalable, low-emission, and natural colorant option for various industrial applications.
“This is a true circular economy solution. We’ve utilized an industrial by-product and refined it into a high-value bio-based coffee waste dye to replace synthetic printing inks,” says Pasi Ainasoja, CEO of Natural Indigo Finland.
Meira wants to help accelerate the transition to more sustainable solutions across industries.
“As a coffee roastery and a company committed to sustainable development, we are delighted that this valuable raw material has found a new, alternative use,” says Heidi Päiväniemi, Director of Sustainability, Development, and Communications at Meira Oy.
Biogas and Dye from Coffee Production By-Products
Since 2020, biogas has been produced from Meira’s coffee waste, which is still used as an energy source in coffee production. This measure reduces Meira’s CO₂ emissions by approximately 77 tons per year and increases the company’s recycling rate by about 21 percentage points. The recent pilot demonstrates that some of the by-products can also be directed toward dye production. The coffee waste generated during dye production is composted after extraction and used locally in agriculture.
“Our coffee by-products are already used to produce biogas, and now they can also be utilized in packaging printing. This collaboration between a startup, a university, and industry is a great example of interdisciplinary innovation leading to concrete sustainable development solutions,” says Heidi Päiväniemi.
