NEW PRODUCT / SOLUTION
Paper
APPLICATION SECTOR
Paper
VALORIZED OUTPUT
Coffee silverskin
TRL
Deploy
CONTEXT
Global
SDG
VALUE CHAIN AREA
Silverskin is the thin, silvery layer that coats the coffee bean and is naturally shed during the roasting process. Though it makes up only 1–2% of the bean’s total weight, it holds great potential for reuse across various industries.
One innovative application is in papermaking. After the silverskin is pulped—breaking down its fibrous structure into a workable material—and the fibers are refined, the resulting pulp is mixed with water and molded into sheets. These sheets then undergo pressing and drying to remove excess moisture and solidify their structure. Additional finishing processes, such as smoothing or coating, can further enhance the paper’s quality and appearance.
A prime example of this approach is Favini’s Crush Paper, which integrates cellulose-rich silverskin to replace 15% of virgin cellulose, offering a sustainable, tree-free alternative in the paper industry.
Sources:
- ICO 2024, Beyond Coffee: Towards a Circular Coffee Economy coffee-development-report-2022-23.pdf
DESCRIPTION
IMPACTS
While coffee silverskin offers a sustainable alternative in papermaking, several challenges limit its widespread adoption. One key limitation is that its fibers may lack the necessary strength and length required for producing high-quality paper, which can affect the durability and overall performance of the final product. Additionally, natural chemical variations in silverskin can introduce inconsistencies in the papermaking process, influencing important characteristics such as texture, color, and printability. Beyond these technical constraints, the economic viability of silverskin as a raw material also comes into question. Since demand for paper made from coffee byproducts remains relatively low, scaling up production may prove difficult without greater market interest and investment. However, with continued innovation and increased awareness of its potential, coffee silverskin could play a more significant role in the circular economy.
CHALLENGES AND LIMITS
EXAMPLES OF APPLICATION
An Italian company that incorporates alternative materials into papermaking. The Favini group has launched a special edition line of papers named “Crush Story” which uses coffee silverskin, chlorogenic acids and cellulose from coffee waste to produce paper.