By Katarina Rauhala, Liisa Ronkainen and Outi Räsänen. Oulu University of Applied Sciences
In a world increasingly focused on sustainability and circular design, coffee—one of the most consumed beverages globally —is finding new life beyond the cup. From used coffee packaging to spent grounds, this brown bean is being repurposed in innovative ways across fashion, performing arts, and the textile industry. The result? A blend of creativity, eco-consciousness, and beauty.
Finns, the Happy Coffee Drinkers
Finns are among the most enthusiastic coffee drinkers in the world, consuming an average of 10 kilos of roasted coffee per person annually. The exact reason for this is hard to pinpoint, but perhaps long, dark evenings and Finland’s reputation as the world’s happiest nation contribute to the strength of its coffee culture.
The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare’s FinRavinto 2017 study on Finnish dietary habits also provides insights into coffee consumption. On average, Finns drink four cups of coffee per day. Changes in coffee consumption habits in Finland are relatively small, as traditions evolve slowly. Light roast coffee has traditionally been the most popular, but dark roasts now account for 20% of consumption. Another continually growing trend is espresso-based drinks, with many people owning espresso machines or capsule coffee makers. Cold-brew coffee is also gaining popularity. Interest in coffee origin is increasing, and consumers are willing to pay for quality.
The Long Tradition of Coffee Package Crafts in Finland
In addition to enjoying the contents of a coffee package, it is a Finnish tradition to craft various items from the plastic outer layer of the package. In skilled hands, the plastic material can be transformed into durable and practical products with excellent wear and resilience properties. The material is flexible, water-resistant, and strong, making it ideal for bags and baskets. During initial heat treatment tests of printed conductive materials at Oulu University of Applied Sciences (Oamk), it was also found that the coffee package material withstands heat very well.
Finns have many unique ways of spending time productively, and coffee package crafts are a great example. For as long as anyone can remember, baskets have been made using traditional basket-weaving techniques, and coffee package material is also used as weft in rag rugs. Both are everyday household items and excellent examples of recycling and repurposing existing materials.
Coffee package material can also be turned into potholders, Christmas decorations, purses and bags—the possibilities are endless. Interestingly, this craft culture seems to be quite Finnish. Discussions with participants from other European countries in the CRAFT-IT4SD project revealed that similar traditions do not exist in their cultures. However, some fashion designers have created outfits from used coffee capsules, and online searches reveal dog beds made from jute sacks used for coffee beans. These sacks are minimally processed and close to the original plant material. In contrast, industrial textile processing involves many polluting steps.
Coffee Packaging in Costume Design: The Northern Lights Case Study
Besides crafters, these shiny, durable materials of coffee packages offer a unique opportunity for costume designers in the performing arts. Dance troupes, theater productions, and avant-garde fashion shows have begun incorporating coffee packaging into their costumes and transforming waste into wearable art. These materials are lightweight, reflective, and surprisingly versatile. Designers cut, fold, and weave them into intricate patterns, creating dramatic textures and shimmering effects under stage lights.
Coffee package material is also easy to sew with a regular sewing machine. This aspect will be explored during Oamk’s pilot round two, where we will design and create a costume for the Northern Lights role in the Snow Queen ballet. The base will be an old ballet costume, which will be disassembled, sorted, washed, and cleaned for reuse. A unique design costume will be created from the base and coffee package material for one dancer, tailored to fit.
New technology will also be integrated into the costume to enhance its visual impact. We are currently testing integration using printing techniques and applying various films with technological applications—mostly electrically conductive—on top of the coffee package material. We are also exploring how digital applications embedded in the costume will influence choreographic choices and the dancer’s performance and presence in the role.
Our core principle is to build the costume primarily from existing material elements. However, the technology to be integrated must be acquired. We are testing the material’s heat resistance, stretch durability, and washability. Our assumption is that printed conductive materials will not withstand washing well—this is likely a global issue requiring further research and testing. Smart clothing has both demand and potential.
The Many Shades and Benefits of Coffee
Beyond packaging, used coffee grounds are being integrated into textiles themselves. Several eco-conscious brands have developed processes to infuse coffee grounds into yarns and fabrics. The benefits are impressive; Coffee-infused textiles offer a combination of sustainability and performance-enhancing features, making them particularly suitable for activewear. The porous structure of coffee grounds enables them to absorb moisture and neutralize odors naturally, helping garments stay fresher for longer, and coffee’s antibacterial properties make the fabric suitable for healthcare textiles (ICO, 2024).
Therefore, using spent coffee as textile dye not only reduces landfill waste but also adds functional value to garments. It’s a win-win for both the environment and consumers seeking sustainable clothing. In addition, each batch of coffee-dyed clothing might end up a slightly different shade especially after washing, giving each item an individual shade of color.
A good example of dyeing textiles with coffee in Finland is Natural Indigo, a Northern Finnish company. They began by dyeing fabric with plants such as willow and onion skins and are now focusing on developing coloring with coffee with a Finnish coffee company, Paulig Group, to produce coloring for both textiles and packaging. Finnish design companies such as Marimekko use Natural Indigo’s coloring in their textiles.
The Art of Upcycling: Coffee as a Creative Catalyst
Whether it’s a ballet costume shimmering with coffee foil or a T-shirt dyed with recycled grounds, coffee is proving to be more than just a much-needed morning ritual. It’s a material with potential—one that invites designers, artists, innovators and the food industry to rethink waste and embrace circularity. As sustainability becomes central to design thinking, coffee’s journey from cup to costume is a good reminder: innovation often begins with what we throw away.
REFERENCES
International Coffee Organisation. (2024). Beyond coffee: Towards a circular coffee economy. https://www.icocoffee.org/documents/cy2024-25/coffee-development-report-2022-23.pdf
Natural Indigo. (n.d.). Natural Indigo website. Retrieved August 28, 2025, from https://naturalindigo.fi/
Valsta L. et. al. (2018).Nutrition in Finland (Ravitsemus Suomessa). FinRavinto 2017 study. Finnish Health and Welfare Institution.