Recycling of spent coffee grounds in construction materials: A review

Abstract Coffee, the second most traded commodity and the second-largest beverage consumed around the world, is responsible for many environmental burdens in the form of spent coffee grounds (SCGs), a by-product from the brewing process of coffee. On the other hand, the carbon footprints and environmental impacts related to construction projects are very concerning. Therefore, researchers and industries have recently tried to move towards green construction practices. This paper presents an overview of utilisation of SCGs, as a promising green biowaste source, in the civil and construction industry. From the literature review conducted, it can be concluded that SCGs have potential use as aggregates in construction materials across a broad range of civil engineering applications. However, limited research and lack of evidence of successful practical applications in the field mean further comprehensive studies in this specific area is required.