About
bio-bean
We are a team of experts innovating through coffee waste to create impactful, sustainable change.
We continually push forward, driven by opportunity from positive sustainable action. We believe this simply makes good business sense.
Our History
Eight years ago a student noticed the film of oil collecting on his cold americano and began to wonder. Struck by the volume of used coffee grounds going to waste, he found research supporting his theory that the used grounds contain oil and could therefore be used as a fuel source. He went on to develop coffee-derived biomass pellets and from there, bio-bean was born.
Founded in 2013, bio-bean grew rapidly, launching coffee collection services across the UK and building the world’s first industrial-scale coffee recycling factory only two years later. In 2016 we launched our first consumer retail product, Coffee Logs, and in 2019 our first natural flavour ingredient into the food and beverage industry.
What started as a good idea is today the UK’s largest recycler of coffee grounds and a Certified B Corporation™. We’re an award-winning team of 30 working with some of the biggest companies in the country to transform coffee waste into valuable products at an industrial scale.
Our Purpose
bio-bean is about creating change: at scale, with longevity and with real impact. Bold and ambitious, we are full-hearted, creating a real difference for our world by sustainably innovating through coffee waste.
Since industrialisation the world’s short-termist harvesting of the earth’s resources has set off an invisible chain of waste creation, leading to long-term environmental damage. A big change in human behaviour started this problem, and a big change is required to fix it.
We are a team of tenacious problem-solvers, driving impact and behaviour change through action at scale. We try, we test, we prove, we try more and we move forward, helping to create a path for sustainable, impactful business to prosper.
As a B Corp™, and with sustainability at the heart of everything we do, we’re in it for the long haul, creating impact built to last.
Team
George May
Managing Director
George is head of bio-bean and also leads on the company’s commercial & marketing strategies and their implementation.
Peter Griffiths
Chief Operating Officer
Pete leads our finance, operations and technology teams, with a background working for businesses focused on sustainability and climate change.
Ben Mills-Lamptey
Chief Technology Officer
A PhD in Chemical Engineering and IChemE Fellow with over 25 years’ experience, Ben leads on technology and product development.
Matt Keniston
Commercial Head, Renewals and Elements
A background in renewables, Matt manages all product sales within bio-bean Elements, and coffee collection services for bio-bean Renewals.
Jessica Folkerts
Head of Marketing
A background in strategically focused marketing across a variety of ethical brands and organisations, Jessica leads our marketing and communications function.
Jo Doyle
HSEQ Systems Leader
Jo heads our environmental and quality management systems, with 8 years’ experience in developing, implementing and maintaining high standards.
Shaun Kisby
Factory Production Manager
Shaun has 30+ years’ experience in manufacturing innovations and has played an integral role in developing our processing facility.
Kieth Riley
Site Engineering Manager
Kieth has a background of over 20 years in maintenance engineering, including experience in the renewables sector.
Chris Racher
Finance Manager
Chris manages our finance team on budgeting, reporting, IT systems, and raw material procurement.