OUTER PLANET 58 PETplanet Insider Vol. 25 No. 05/24 www.petpla.net OUTER PLANET Coffee consumption meets PET recycling Drinking coffee while making an impact on PET recycling? At first glance, these might seem unrelated, but Cologne-based start-up Plastic2beans is bridging the gap. Every cup of their direct-trade coffee contributes to both ecological and social causes, with proceeds invested in building a circular economy in Ethiopia. Founded in 2018 by Dr KalieMartin Cheng, a polymer chemistry PhD, and Abiye Dagnew, a plastics engineer from Ethiopia, the start-up Plastic2beans emerged from a vision to promote responsible plastic usage globally. The founders identified a significant leverage point in countries where plastic consumption is rising rapidly but recycling technology and know-how remain limited. “When we started in 2018, the PET bottle collection rate in Ethiopia was 40%. However, by 2021, despite a doubling in PET bottle trade volume, collection capacities remained stagnant, leading to a collection rate of 20%,” shares Kalie Cheng. Nevertheless, infrastructure adjustments seem to be adapting to increased consumption levels, explaining the rise to 30% in 2022. Currently, recycled PET in Ethiopia is primarily exported to Eastern Europe for trays and fibres, while domestically manufactured PET bottles rely solely on imported virgin materials. Plastic2beans advocates keeping PET within the local food cycle, but faces hurdles as the use of rPET in bottles is not yet permitted in Ethiopia. “The government is working on legislation for rPET use in Ethiopia. We’ve been in contact with relevant stakeholders, providing information to support a favourable decision. There are some misconceptions to address,” explains Cheng. In collaboration with the German Development Cooperation (GIZ), the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and local industry partners in Ethiopia, the first PET SSP bottle-to-bottle recycling plant in East Africa is planned. Because of current political challenges in Ethiopia, the project is on hold, but partners continue to press for necessary legal reforms. “Our studies for GIZ and BMZ contributed to legislative changes, primarily driven by the NGO PETCO Ethiopia. The new law, effective since September 2022, prohibits coloured PET bottles, improving recycling capability by approximately 140 million kilograms annually. This also boosts material value, benefiting the poorest 1% who collect bottles on the streets,” Cheng reveals, noting visible reductions in street litter. The connection between coffee and PET recycling But how does coffee fit into all of this? Despite partnerships, financing the recycling plant in Ethiopia remains a challenge due to financial constraints. “We exchange knowledge and technology not for dollars, but for fair-trade organic coffee,” explains Cheng. Sourced from cooperatives where farmers cultivate coffee in mixed crops, Plastic2beans’ specialty coffee, 100% organic and sustainable, has a dual impact: better compensation for farmers compared to market prices in addition to the recycling efforts. The coffee can be enjoyed either at the Impact Café in Cologne, Germany, or ordered online through the company’s website. While the system is replicable in other countries, the focus now is on finalising the Ethiopian bottle-to-bottle plant. Interested companies, especially those willing to operate food-grade PET recycling plants in Ethiopia or other African countries, are encouraged to reach out to Plastic2beans. www.plastic2beans.com Founders Abiye Dagnew (third from left) and Dr Kalie Cheng (third from right) with their team in the Impact café in Cologne, Germany PET bottles in Ethiopia are sorted manually.
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