HUMAN BEANS™
THE GROUNDS FOR GOOD!

CHARITY BEGINS WITH A COFFEE IN WORLD FIRST FROM SA

Foodbank SA has partnered with Neutrog Australia, On the Run (OTR)  Detpak and Biobag to trial a world first sustainable project and product that will support locals in need and give customers the power to redirect their coffee waste going to landfill – all they have to do is purchase a cup of coffee, with an occasional side of fertiliser.

Neutrog – an innovative local manufacturer of certified organic fertilisers – has recently launched its Human Beans™ – Grounds For Good project, an environmental initiative to direct coffee waste from development partner OTR’s stores across South Australia away from becoming landfill by converting it to fertiliser.

According to a recent Planet Ark report, Australians consume around 6 billion coffees per year with the waste created by our favourite hot beverages being added into landfill almost immediately.

The Human Beans™ – Grounds For Good project aims to break this cycle by instead collecting the waste and converting it into fertiliser, which will be sold in retail outlets for use in home gardens and, on a larger scale. Part proceeds from sales will be donated in-part to Foodbank SA to help expand its services to families in need.  Each 1 kilo pack sold will put five meals on the table of those in need here in SA.

Greg Pattinson, CEO, of leading charity Foodbank SA, which will be the recipient of part proceeds from sales of Human Beans™ Fertiliser, is thrilled with what this partnership will provide for South Australians.

“Our mission is to end hunger in South Australia by helping get meals on the table for more than 135,000 struggling South Australians each month. We are excited about this project and the impact it will have for those experiencing hunger.

“Not only will this Human Beans™ initiative promote greater awareness for the work Foodbank do in the community, but it will reduce waste and bring additional funding to put more meals on the table of those in need in South Australia.

“This is a great example of a collaboration between a diverse group of South Australian organisations that will have a significant positive impact in this state. It is an innovative program that Foodbank SA is very proud to be associated with. It not only helps Foodbank to work toward the United Nations Sustainability goals but at the same time it is going to help feed people in need.

“We believe ‘Human Beans™’ is the first collaborative innovation of its kind globally that has both environmental benefits and positive social impacts. We look forward to the South Australian community embracing Human Beans – it really is the grounds for good” said Greg Pattinson, CEO, Foodbank SA.

“Foodbank already regularly visits OTRs in South Australia to collect unused foods and items to donate to its clients. What we intend to do is ask these retailers to retain their coffee grounds, pop them into a Biobag and allow Foodbank to collect the stock to take back to its depot where it will be picked up by Neutrog.

“Neutrog will then transport the waste to our facility in Kanmantoo where it will be mixed with other ingredients such as chicken poo and compost it to stabilise the nutrients, killing pathogens and making them available to be taken up by plants.

“Once this process is complete, the product will be converted into pellets and packaged. The retailers who donated the coffee waste will then buy them back in the same quantity (per kilogram) that has been collected to promote sustainability, and they will then encourage their coffee customers to do the same.

“For example, if a customer purchases one coffee per day, this means they should buy a pack of fertiliser worth the same amount every so often – and in doing so, they will do their bit for the planet and those in need in our community.”

Humans Beans Fertiliser is to be sold in a 1 kilo bag (which contains the grounds from approx. 25 coffees) and is scheduled to be available for purchase in early 2021 via key OTR’s for $9.95 – one bag of Human Beans™ will subsidise 5 meals for Foodbank recipients e.g. one in five coffees gives back to those in need in SA.

Mr Irwin said if this initial trial (October 18 – November 30, 2020) proved successful, Neutrog would look to increase its partnerships with more retailers, which could include Bunnings, McDonald’s, Caltex, and more

Media Contact

Sarah Davies
Marketing & Fundraising Manager, Foodbank SA
08 8351 1136
sarahd@foodbanksa.org.au