RMIT University’s innovative coffee concrete project has clinched the Problem Solver category award at the prestigious Universities Australia’s Shaping Australia Awards.
The team’s groundbreaking research, which uses biochar made from spent coffee grounds to strengthen concrete by 30 per cent, secured the most public votes to win the People’s Choice award.
Dr Rajeev Roychand and Professor Jie Li accepted the Problem Solver 2024 People’s Choice Winner award on behalf of their team at Parliament House in Canberra.
The winning team includes Associate Professor Shannon Kilmartin-Lynch, Dr Mohammad Saberian, Professor Guomin (Kevin) Zhang, and Professor Chun Qing Li.
This innovative technique addresses significant sustainability challenges in Australia.
The country generates approximately 75,000 tonnes of ground coffee waste annually, contributing to 6.87 million tonnes of organic waste in landfills.
This waste accounts for 3 per cent of the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions.
The coffee biochar can replace a portion of the sand used in concrete production, offering a sustainable alternative to this increasingly scarce natural resource.
Global sand demand is projected to rise by 45 per cent over the next four decades, making this innovation particularly timely.
Dr Roychand, the lead inventor, expressed his enthusiasm about the award: “Winning this national award is outstanding recognition of our vision to transform waste materials into valuable construction resources.
“What began as research into coffee grounds has now evolved into a comprehensive program converting various types of organic waste into biochar that could help reshape the environmental footprint of the built environment.”
The team has rapidly progressed from laboratory research to real-world applications.
Within a year, they collaborated with industry and government partners to conduct a world-first footpath trial in Gisborne, Victoria.
The coffee concrete is also being used in Victoria’s Big Build projects and is showcased in Germany’s prestigious Futurium museum as an innovative material for a sustainable future.
Following the success of their research, the team has expanded its collaboration with industry leaders both locally and internationally.
RMIT’s partnerships with Ambiolock in Australia and C-Green in Sweden are advancing high-durability, low-carbon biochar-based materials for sustainable construction.
The innovative coffee concrete has garnered global attention, with coverage in major international media outlets.
As the team continues to expand its global impact, they are demonstrating how innovative waste-to-resource solutions can be integrated into mainstream infrastructure and construction practices worldwide.
