Coffee grounds market seen doubling to US$2.3B by 2033

By AI, Created 10:55 AM UTC, May 21, 2026, /AGP/ – The global coffee grounds market is projected to rise from US$1.2 billion in 2026 to US$2.3 billion by 2033, driven by demand for sustainable reuse, circular economy practices and eco-friendly raw materials. Europe leads today, while agriculture, cosmetics, biofuels and upcycling technologies are expected to shape the next phase of growth.

Why it matters: - Coffee grounds are moving from waste stream to industrial input, creating new value across agriculture, cosmetics, biofuels and materials. - The market outlook signals more demand for upcycled raw materials as regulators and companies push harder on waste reduction and sustainability targets. - The forecast points to a larger commercial role for spent coffee grounds in products that replace conventional chemical or fossil-based inputs.

What happened: - The global coffee grounds market is projected to reach US$1.2 billion in 2026 and US$2.3 billion by 2033. - The market is forecast to grow at a 9.7% CAGR from 2026 to 2033. - Growth is tied to rising coffee consumption, which is increasing the volume of coffee waste available for reuse. - The market is expanding across agriculture, cosmetics, biofuels, food additives and personal care products. - Free sample report is available from Persistence Market Research. - Customization request is available for the report.

The details: - Coffee grounds are being used as organic fertilizers, soil conditioners, natural exfoliants in skincare formulations and biomass energy sources. - Advances in bio-refining technologies and material recovery processes are improving extraction of oils, antioxidants and other bioactive compounds from spent coffee grounds. - The market is segmented by application into agriculture and horticulture, food and beverage, cosmetics and personal care, bioenergy and biofuels, materials and industrial products, construction materials and others. - The market is segmented by product type into fresh, spent and processed or upcycled. - The market is segmented by source into households, commercial foodservice, industrial processing facilities and agricultural processing residues. - Europe leads the market, supported by environmental rules, high coffee consumption and stronger waste management infrastructure. - Germany, the United Kingdom, France and Italy are promoting circular economy initiatives that support reuse and recycling of organic waste. - Europe’s cosmetics industry is also lifting demand for coffee grounds in skincare and personal care products. - North America holds a significant share, supported by sustainability awareness and adoption of eco-friendly products. - The United States is seeing more investment in bioenergy projects and sustainable agriculture. - Startups focused on upcycling coffee waste are adding momentum in North America. - Artificial intelligence is being used to optimize waste collection, processing and conversion pathways. - AI-driven analytics are also helping companies identify higher-value applications and improve supply chain logistics for upcycled materials. - Key companies named in the market include Nestlé, Veolia, SUEZ, Bio-bean, Starbucks, Reground, Coffee Recycling Company, Ground Control, Caribou Coffee, Farmer Brothers, Lavazza, UCC Holdings, Blue Tokai Coffee Roasters, Kaffa Roastery and Wake The Tree.

Between the lines: - The market story is less about coffee itself and more about the economics of turning organic waste into sellable inputs. - Europe’s lead suggests regulation and established recycling systems can be as important as consumer demand in building upcycling markets. - AI adoption signals a push to make waste-to-product chains more efficient, which could improve margins and scale. - The most promising upside appears to be in higher-value uses such as bioplastics, sustainable packaging, renewable energy and advanced agricultural inputs.

What’s next: - More commercialization is likely as companies expand spent coffee grounds into new product lines and processing methods. - Emerging applications in bioplastics, packaging, renewable energy and agriculture are expected to open additional growth channels through 2033. - The market’s next phase will likely depend on how quickly upcycling technologies can convert waste into consistent, high-quality industrial feedstocks. - Full report checkout is available for purchase.