About

Coffeeco Upcycle is a pioneering company that transforms coffee waste into high-value, sustainable products in the skincare and biobased plastics sectors. Through a proprietary upcycling process, we convert spent coffee grounds into active ingredients for natural skincare and organic fibers for eco-friendly plastics. Our mission is to drive a circular economy by reducing waste, lowering carbon emissions, and providing sustainable alternatives to conventional products. We partner with coffee shops to collect their coffee waste, repurposing it into valuable products, and offering these shops our skincare lines at wholesale prices. Our brands, Auraskin and HautKos, cater to both mass-market and premium segments, with international expansion underway. Additionally, we collaborate with companies like Thrace Group and Polypack to commercialize biobased plastics for the HORECA sector, supporting the shift to sustainable materials. Coffeeco has also established commercial partnerships with Attica Group and private label discussions with brands like Taf and Coffee Island, enhancing our market reach. With a focus on innovation, strategic collaborations, and international growth, Coffeeco is positioned to lead in sustainability across multiple industries.

Solution & Product

Coffeeco Upcycle offers an innovative solution to the global issue of coffee waste by transforming it into sustainable, high-value products for the skincare and bioplastics industries. Our process diverts spent coffee grounds from landfills, reducing waste and carbon emissions, and repurposes them into two main product categories: active skincare ingredients and organic fibers for biobased plastics. Skincare Products Coffeeco utilizes proprietary extraction technology to derive active ingredients from coffee grounds, which are known for their anti-acne, antioxidant, and microbiome-friendly properties. These ingredients are then incorporated into our skincare lines, Auraskin and HautKos. Auraskin caters to the mass-market with accessible, eco-friendly skincare solutions, while HautKos offers premium products designed for international markets. Both brands emphasize sustainability, using natural ingredients and biobased packaging. Biobased Plastics The remaining coffee grounds are processed into organic fibers that are blended with polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) to create eco-friendly plastics. Our bioplastics, containing 10-15% coffee fiber, serve as sustainable alternatives to traditional plastics, used in products like straws, cups, and packaging. We are actively working to increase the fiber content to 40% to enhance sustainability. Collaborations with Thrace Group and Polypack have enabled us to commercialize these applications, supporting

Innovation & Scalability

Coffeeco Upcycle stands out for its innovative approach to solving the problem of coffee waste through a proprietary upcycling process that converts spent coffee grounds into valuable products. Our technology involves multiple stages, including natural dehydration, precise extraction, and specialized milling, which allow us to create two main outputs: active skincare ingredients and organic fibers for biobased plastics. Innovative Processes What makes our process unique is the combination of trade-secret techniques that optimize variables such as pressure, temperature, and particle size during extraction. This ensures that the active ingredients maintain their efficacy, with properties like anti-acne and microbiome-friendly benefits. Similarly, our advanced milling process transforms residual coffee grounds into high-quality fibers, which can be integrated into polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) to produce bioplastics. This dual-output model allows Coffeeco to serve both the skincare and plastics industries, maximizing the value extracted from coffee waste. Scalability Coffeeco’s business model is inherently scalable. Our upcycling process can be easily replicated across different regions, making it possible to expand the collection network from local coffee shops to international markets. We are currently scaling our collection points from 30 to 100 by the end of Q4 2024, with plans to further increase this network. Additionally, our partnerships with major companies

Traction & achievements

Coffeeco Upcycle has made significant strides in establishing itself as a leader in the sustainable upcycling sector, gaining traction across both the skincare and bioplastics markets. Our journey is marked by strategic partnerships, successful product launches, and participation in key industry events that have helped us expand our reach and credibility. Key Achievements: Revenue Growth & Sales Channels: Generated €130,000 in revenue in 2024, with €10,000 from ingredient sales to partners like Papoutsanis and Lessonia, €25,000 from wholesale skincare sales, and €97,000 from a national grant. Established a network of 29 wholesale points across Greece, including partnerships with notable brands like Coffee Island, Taf, Cultivos, and Public Cafe. Our goal is to scale this network to 100 points by the end of Q4 2024. Strategic Partnerships: Secured a commercial partnership with Attica Group, Greece’s leading cruise company, to provide branded shower gels made from upcycled coffee waste, while promoting our circular model to over 2.5 million annual travelers. Collaborated with Thrace Group and Polypack to develop biobased plastic applications for the HORECA sector, including single-use cups, garbage bags, and cosmetic packaging. Expo Participation & Industry Recognition: Successfully participated in global industry expos such as Cosmoprof, InCosmetics, and World of Coffee (WOC). These events allowed us to connect with brands, distributors, and manufacturers across 37 countri

Team & Why Us

Coffeeco Upcycle is led by a passionate and experienced team with a shared commitment to sustainability and innovation. Our diverse expertise across engineering, product development, sales, and marketing allows us to seamlessly integrate our vision of transforming coffee waste into valuable, eco-friendly products. Key Team Members: Alexis Pantziaros - CEO Alexis is the visionary behind Coffeeco Upcycle, bringing a strong background in chemical engineering and sustainable product development. During his PhD at the Chemical Engineering School in Patras, he collaborated with Marios Vlachogiannis, laying the foundation for Coffeeco's upcycling technology. Alexis drives the company’s strategic direction, focusing on innovation, partnerships, and international growth. Marios Vlachogiannis - Chief Product Officer (CPO) Marios leads the product development team, leveraging his expertise in process engineering. He has been instrumental in developing Coffeeco’s proprietary extraction and fiber processing techniques, ensuring the quality and scalability of our upcycling solutions. His collaborative work with Alexis has been key to Coffeeco’s success in both the skincare and bioplastics sectors. Johnie Voutsas - Commercial Partner Johnie oversees Coffeeco’s commercial strategy, focusing on expanding the company’s market reach through partnerships and sales channels. His deep understanding of B2B relationships has enabled Coffeeco to secure strategic collaborations with key industry p

Funding Needs

Coffeeco Upcycle is currently raising a €1M seed round to accelerate our growth and expand our operations. This funding will enable us to scale production, enhance marketing efforts, and strengthen our strategic partnerships, positioning us as a leader in sustainable skincare and biobased plastics.