Circular economy business models in the coffee industry: the case of delta cafés

Abstract

Delta Cafés, a Portuguese coffee company, invested in an urban farm that reuses spent coffee grounds to produce mushrooms and sell locally. NÃM, the Circular Economy business, might be one of the future relevant solutions to reuse Delta Cafés’ coffee waste. This master thesis addresses the company’s journey to close the cycle of coffee grounds, with NÃM and through other ventures, and NÃM’s business model, in a Case-Study and in a Project Evaluation Report. In a Teaching Note, it elaborates on main findings and lessons-learnt from the Case-Study, such as on competitiveness, and it leads a discussion on NÃM’s future.