EcoBean’s Impact through Innovation at CIC Warsaw

The EcoBean team in the lobby of CIC Warsaw

Time is of the essence for major global issues like climate change. The United Nations warns that we only have seven years to significantly reduce emissions to curb the catastrophic effects of global warming. To tackle this monumental challenge, industries like energy, transportation, food and agriculture must take immediate action. 

Confronting an issue of this scale demands bold ideas, transformative solutions and innovators working together to make a collective impact. The CIC Innovation Campus in Warsaw, Poland connects individuals and organizations across the globe so they can work to solve the world’s most pressing problems.  

One company at the forefront of this mission is EcoBean, a CIC Warsaw-based startup that turns spent coffee grounds into sustainable chemicals. The coffee industry ranks as the fifth largest CO₂ emitter in the food sector, with over 12 million tons of grounds discarded yearly after brewing.

EcoBean is making incredible strides in reducing the carbon footprint of the coffee industry and the ingredients used to make it, but the journey to sustainability is easier when shared. Renting office space in CIC Warsaw gives EcoBean access to a collaborative community of fellow researchers and innovators who are all working toward a shared goal: innovation designed to make meaningful progress to tackle climate change.

Innovation Hubs Foster Meaningful Partnerships that Drive Progress Forward

Innovation hubs, like CIC Warsaw, provide more than just lab or office space. They create communities where collaboration is key to scaling innovative ideas and making a real-world impact. Marcin Koziorowski and Kacper Kossowski, co-founders of EcoBean, have met investors, members of other corporations, and even customers through CIC, all of which have played a significant role in expediting their growth. 

“Innovation is the ability to see potential – in our case, it’s potential in what others view as only waste.” — Marcin Koziorowski, CEO & Co-Founder, EcoBean

“Working in close proximity to other innovators and talented people creating new, disruptive technology is really beneficial for our team,” Koziorowski added.  

CIC Warsaw’s 2023 impact report echoes this sentiment. It found that 1 in 4 clients have formed a partnership within the CIC ecosystem. Additionally, 69% of clients have received outside funding and over 75% have grown their teams. The numbers demonstrate how flexible, shared workspace in an innovation hub helps to foster meaningful partnerships that serve as a catalyst to drive progress forward at unprecedented rates.

With a core mission to bring the principles of a circular economy to the coffee and chemical sectors, partnerships are in EcoBean’s DNA. From gathering spent coffee grounds from Starbucks and other companies for research and development, to developing technology that transforms these grounds into five valuable chemical fractions—coffee oil, antioxidants, lignin, PLA, and protein additives—EcoBean is on a path to revolutionize the industry.

Why EcoBean Chose CIC Warsaw

When looking for a workspace, it’s essential to choose an environment that challenges and sparks inspiration to make purposeful contributions. Koziorowski decided that CIC Warsaw – located in the heart of Warsaw – was “the perfect match” for their business because the campus is surrounded by nature, which serves as an important reminder of EcoBean’s critical mission to make the world a greener place. Warsaw is the perfect backdrop because almost 25% of the city is made up of green areas including parks, gardens, and natural spaces, and it is one of the few metropolitan cities in the world that has lush forests within its city limits. 

In addition, Koziorowski describes the community within CIC Warsaw as very hospitable and energetic which fuels their ambition to accomplish incredible work. The community enables him to meet, mingle, and mix every day with others who share similar interests and values. CIC is a place for innovators, thinkers, and entrepreneurs to spark new connections and build impactful relationships at every step.

Two conference rooms at CIC Warsaw
Conference Rooms at CIC Warsaw

CIC Warsaw: Striving for Sustainability

Sustainability is woven into daily operations of CIC Warsaw. For example, 79% of kitchen products at CIC Warsaw come directly from Poland, reducing the impact of transporting food over long distances and supporting the local economy.

CIC Warsaw also takes a page from EcoBean’s book by implementing sustainable coffee practices. This includes opting for a single-origin coffee, which ensures traceability to a specific plantation, delivering coffee in reusable containers, and transforming the spent grounds into chemicals to reduce waste. With more than 2.25 billion cups of coffee consumed worldwide on a daily basis, we can all contribute to a more sustainable future one coffee cup at a time. 

Are you ready to transform your ideas into actionable solutions and connect with others who share the same goals? Contact us today and learn how CIC Warsaw can help fuel your growth.

The Office The Work Warsaw Europe