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In the United Kingdom, 500,000 tons of used coffee grains wind up in landfills every year, where it emits the greenhouse gas methane 28 times more potent than carbon dioxide. But in 2013, Arthur Kay created a solution that makes spent coffee grains good for the environment, while producing renewable carbon-neutral energy and creating jobs.
Arthur is Founder and Deputy chairman of bio-bean®, the world’s first coffee recycling factory — converting 50,000 tons of waste coffee grains a year into advanced biofuels and biochemicals. That is equivalent to one-in-ten cups of coffee currently consumed in the UK.
By founding and growing bio-bean, Arthur has successfully delivered several Global Goals — He has created responsible consumption and production by connecting supply chains between the waste, energy and biochemicals industries. His company is producing a cheap source of carbon-neutral energy. By removing spent coffee grounds and their methane emissions from landfills, bio-bean is a climate action innovator. Also, he is creating economic growth that does not harm the environment nor deplete resources. His work has produced a new solution contributing to more sustainable cities and communities.
About Arthur Kay
Arthur Kay is Founder and Deputy Chairman of bio-bean®, a clean technology company that recycles waste coffee grounds into advanced biofuels and biochemicals. He is also Co-founder and Chairman of Fast Forward 2030, a non-profit that identifies and promotes business models that will help deliver the Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs). With bio-bean, Arthur built the first coffee waste recycling factory, with the capacity to process 50,000 tons of waste coffee each year.
Arthur received numerous recognitions, including Forbes Magazine’s 30 under 30 All Stars Alumni, Sustainable Business Leader of the Year by the Guardian, and Entrepreneur of the Year by both Business Green and Shell. He was appointed as a London Leader by the Mayor of London and 25 under 25 by the Evening Standard. He is a Fellow of Wired and the RSA.
bio-bean is a member of Global Compact Network UK
