Every day, hundreds of coffees are brewed across our Winnie’s Cafés and Bars. But here’s the part most people don’t see: only 1% of the coffee beans end up in your cup. 99% goes unused. At room2 hometels, we are changing this.
Why Coffee Grounds?
Coffee waste is one of our most consistent and traceable waste streams, with over 500kg of grounds produced each month from our on-site cafés. Whilst our coffee grounds are either composted or sent to anaerobic digestion, it’s not always a perfect solution. In large quantities, their acidity can disrupt soil balance, and as they break down, they can release methane, a potent greenhouse gas.
The Solution: From Waste to Print
As part of our Circular Design Studio initiative, we’ve partnered with London-based Batch.works to transform used coffee grounds into design pieces for our hotels. Here’s how it works: Used coffee grounds are collected, dried, and processed. They’re blended with a renewable ‘plastic’ made from crops like corn or sugarcane. This hybrid material is turned into 3D printing filament, which we then use to create new products for our spaces. These products are also designed with their end-of-life in mind. If they break or are no longer needed, the material can be ground down, reprocessed and printed again. That’s truly circular design in action.
We’ve prototyped:
- Bits & Bobs boxes – small, in-room trays for holding keys and essentials
- Room numbers – tactile, easy-to-read signage
- Hangers – lightweight and durable
- Lampshades – each with a warm, organic texture that reflects its coffee-based origins
Design That Closes the Loop
Circular design is more than simply redesigning products – we’re redesigning the system in which they exist. The traditional approach to furniture and fittings in hospitality is linear: extract, make, use, discard. We’re working toward something better: a closed-loop system where materials are designed to be reused, remade, and reintegrated. We design with end-of-life in mind.
In line with our commitment to zero waste to landfill, we continue to integrate circular economy principles into our operations. We’re focused on creating value from waste, not just reducing it. Coffee grounds are just the beginning!
For more information, please reach out to sustainability@lamingtongroup.com