Building a material supply chain from urban waste.
Coffee-based biomaterials developed in Barcelona through structured validation and scale-ready design.
The Idea
BIOMA develops laminated biomaterials using post-consumer coffee waste as primary feedstock. The goal is not to create a niche product brand, but to build a scalable materials platform that begins with waste instead of extraction.
By structuring local waste streams into semi-industrial material production, the project tests whether urban residue can become viable material supply.
Current Stage
Location
Semi-industrial workshop production in Barcelona
Status
Designer validation and small-batch supply
Format
Laminated sheet format (0.5–2 mm thickness)
R&D
Structured feedback loops for performance refinement
Environmental Validation Progress
Life Cycle Assessment
A screening-level cradle-to-gate LCA aligned with ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 is in progress. The functional unit is 1 m² of laminated coffee-based biomaterial.
Key variables under investigation include binder composition, textile backing, and energy intensity. Scenario modelling bounds the environmental profile until measured data is confirmed.
Certification Readiness
Three certification pathways are in preparation (EU Ecolabel, OEKO-TEX Standard 100, Global Recycled Standard).
Readiness assessments identify what evidence exists, what gaps remain, and what testing is needed. This structured approach reduces the risk and cost of formal certification applications.
Physical Testing
Laboratory characterisation of nine material variants has been completed, covering thermal stability, water absorption, and mechanical properties.
These results are being mapped against ISO standards for abrasion resistance, tear strength, tensile strength, colour fastness, waterproofing, and biodegradability.
What Makes This Material Different
Local circular supply chain
Coffee waste sourced from Barcelona HORECA establishments within one kilometre of production. This is not theoretical circularity. It is operational.
Low energy profile
Estimated electricity intensity of 0.19 kWh per m2 in current semi-industrial configuration (sensitivity range 0.06 to 0.35 kWh per m2). Significantly below conventional leather processing.
Material versatility
Nine tested configurations demonstrate the system can produce different performance characteristics (thickness, absorption, flexibility) from the same feedstock and process.
Regulatory readiness
Environmental claims are being built from evidence, not marketing. The LCA framework, certification roadmap, and physical testing programme create a credible foundation for EU market access.
Why It Matters
- Replaces virgin inputs with post-consumer urban waste
- Short supply chains and local sourcing
- Circular production logic (offcut reprocessing)
- Structured pathway toward certification and scale
Scale Logic
Current energy intensity and production capacity reflect semi-industrial conditions. Scale-up focuses on process optimisation, energy efficiency improvements, and material consistency.
The roadmap prioritises validation, performance refinement, and compliance alignment before volume expansion.
Funding Focus
Roadmap
Designer validation and small-batch supply.
Process optimisation and certification alignment.
EU market expansion and structured scale-up.
Invest in material infrastructure.
We are not building a trend-driven product brand. We are developing a material platform grounded in circular feedstock logic and regulatory readiness.