From Waste Coffee to Wearable Color

In Finland we drink more coffee per capita than any other nation on the planet. We even have a precise term to describe the group of symptoms from overdosing it: 

Kah-vi-ö-ve-rit
(Kah-vee-uh-veh-reet)

Our relationship with the substance is complicated but one thing is certain; We all love the smell of fresh coffee in the morning. For the love for coffee and circular economy Pure Waste just started experimenting with coffee-dyed recycled fabrics to extend garment lifespan. 

What if your clothes could soon get a second life – colored by the same coffee you drink every morning?To get an answer to this intriguing question, we collaborated with Natural Indigo Finland, Lafitex and Meira / Massimo Zanetti Beverage Group and now we’ve successfully developed a method to dye our 100% recycled fabrics using coffee production waste.

The color itself is created by Natural Indigo Finland, who have transformed coffee production residue from Meira’s roastery into a bio-based dye. The dyeing process then takes place at Lafitex’s dyehouse in Gandino, Italy, where the recycled fabrics are treated, dyed, and finished to achieve beautiful, earthy tones. So far, we’ve achieved four distinct shades to Pure Waste classic collection shirts — ochre, moss green, sand, and charcoal grey — all born from coffee waste.

Why Coffee?

Pure Waste garments are usually not dyed at all — their color comes from the cutting waste used as raw material. But when we began exploring ways to extend the lifespan of existing products, bio-based dyes offered an intriguing opportunity.

By re-dyeing light-colored or previously used items, companies can refresh rather than replace their workwear or event apparel. It’s a simple act of circular design:

Keep what already exists, make it desirable again, and reduce the need for new production.

Tested by Our User Group

We’re currently testing the durability and feel of the coffee-dyed garments with a user group. The results will help us understand how the colors age, how the fabrics react to washing, and how the shades evolve over time. If the results are as promising as they look, we could in the future offer this as a B2B service, allowing consumers or companies to return their used Pure Waste products for re-dyeing and extended use.

A Small Experiment with Big Potential

Dyeing with waste coffee doesn’t just look good — it saves resources, reduces emissions, and redefines what waste can be. And spent coffee grounds, that is a resource we have mountainfuls in this country alone. 

Let this be a friendly reminder that sustainability isn’t always about new innovations or fresh technology. Sometimes it’s about looking again at what’s already there — and giving it another chance.

Would you wear a coffee-dyed sweatshirt?

Or try dyeing with coffee yourself?

Either way, if you’d like to stay updated on how this experiment evolves – and be among the first to know if new coffee-dyed pieces are launched – subscribe to our newsletter and join to our community of people who care about doing good things, beautifully.