SINGAPORE - This home-grown company collects sodden, used coffee grounds from cafes and hotels, and turns it into wood-like panels that can be used to make furniture. The firm, A1 Environment, first removes contaminants such as coffee filters from the coffee by-product, then dries and processes the coffee grounds and mixes it with a binder so they can be shaped into fire-retardant panels. Since 2019, A1 Environment has worked with local woodworkers and carpenters to build furniture and household items such as tables and shelves from the novel material. For giving food waste a new lease of life, A1 Environment and 10 other firms were recipients of the inaugural Food Resource Valorisation Awards on Wednesday (Sept 29). Food resource valorisation refers to the conversion of food waste into higher-value products. It is a preferred solution to reducing food waste compared to turning it into compost or liquid nutrients. The awards were given out by the National Environment Agency (NEA). A1 Environment business director Loh Yen-Lyng said by the end of next year, when the company has scaled up its processes, it plans to launch a range of furniture, in collaboration with the woodworkers. It...