TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — FamilyMart Taiwan has partnered with other companies to recycle used coffee grounds at its convenience stores, which are dried and processed into reusable raw materials.

Speaking at a Monday press conference, Taiwan FamilyMart General Manager Hsueh Tung-tu (薛東都) said that Taiwanese consumers drink about 3.7 billion cups of coffee annually, with more than one-quarter purchased at convenience stores. FamilyMart sells around 200 million cups annually, generating over 6,000 tonnes of coffee waste and NT$100 million (US$3.2 million) in waste disposal costs, creating challenges for environmental protection and operating expenses, per CNA.

FamilyMart will roll out a coffee grounds drying and recycling system at its 2,200 stores in the first half of next year, initially focusing on the six major cities and Hsinchu. The company said the system can remotely control the drying process, with each machine capable of processing up to four kg of coffee grounds daily. The system will also be expanded to handle tea waste.

To improve the coffee grounds drying process, FamilyMart collaborated with Hong Xu Technology to develop an intelligent coffee grounds dryer that reduces moisture content to below 10% and tracks weight before and after drying. The machine also helps prevent mold growth, a common issue with moist coffee grounds.

The convenience store then utilizes its logistics fleet to transport the dried coffee grounds to industry partners for reuse, a move it said can cut transportation-related carbon emissions by 86%.

FamilyMart said that its partners recycle the coffee grounds into products including activated carbon filters, water filter cartridges, charcoal, cosmetic ingredients, and employee uniforms. Foxconn has used the activated carbon filters at its manufacturing facilities, while Hong Xu Technology produces water filter cartridges made from coffee grounds for use at FamilyMart stores.

Hsueh said that companies must collaborate to manage waste and reduce environmental impact, adding that relying on government subsidies alone is limited. Liu Yi-kuen (劉怡焜), an official from the Resource Circulation Administration, praised FamilyMart and its partners’ efforts, noting that coffee grounds require specialized collection, which is inefficient and costly for retail chains with stores across Taiwan.