Coffee is more than just a morning ritual for many of us – it’s a daily source of energy, joy, and connection. But what happens to the coffee grounds after your cup is brewed? On Wednesday, 29 October 2025, Single O is urging Sydneysiders to rethink this often-overlooked waste problem through their innovative ‘Giving a Puck’ initiative.
Teaming up with sustainability-focused social enterprise Reground, Single O’s latest project supports the diversion of spent coffee grounds from landfill, transforming them into a resource that benefits the environment.
To mark the launch of this game-changing initiative, Single O is hosting a special event at their Surry Hills café, inviting coffee lovers to join the movement. Attendees who bring their reusable cups will not only receive a free takeaway coffee, but also something a little extra – a ‘Giving a Puck’ reusable cup, filled with coffee compost-enriched soil and a planted coffee tree seed for them to grow at home.
Here’s everything you need to know about the initiative, the event, and how you can play your part in making coffee more sustainable.
Turning Coffee Waste Into Opportunity
For most of us, sustainability efforts surrounding coffee tend to focus on ditching single-use cups. But beneath that foam-topped latte lies another significant environmental issue – spent coffee grounds.
“Spent grounds are the coffee industry’s hidden waste problem,” says Mike Brabant, CEO of Single O. “We so often think about the impact of single-use cups, but not the spent coffee puck from our morning latte that goes to landfill. We’re fired up to be changing that – this project gives everyday coffee drinkers a simple way to get involved and help create a more sustainable future for coffee. It’s as simple as supporting your local café that Gives a Puck.”
The ‘Giving a Puck’ initiative is New South Wales’ first dedicated coffee grounds diversion project, enabling cafés and restaurants across the state to participate in an accessible waste collection service. The aim? To support businesses in reducing their environmental footprint while turning discarded coffee pucks into something valuable.
A Big Impact in the First Five Years
The scale of the ambition is nothing short of impressive. Within its first five years, Single O and Reground estimate the project will divert approximately 3 million kilograms of coffee grounds from landfill. To put that into perspective, it’s the equivalent of 85 million cups of coffee.
Instead of contributing to harmful methane emissions when left to rot in landfills, these spent coffee grounds will be given new life. Recycled grounds can be used to enrich soil, enhance compost, or even fuel creative upcycled projects. It’s a significant step forward in addressing the environmental impact of one of the world’s most-loved beverages.
The Event at Single O, Surry Hills
The ‘Give a Puck’ launch event is all about spreading awareness and empowering coffee lovers to make a positive impact. From 7AM to 3.30PM on Wednesday, 29 October 2025, Single O invites Sydneysiders to drop by their Surry Hills café at 60–64 Reservoir Street.
Here’s why you won’t want to miss it:
- Free Takeaway Coffee: Customers who bring a reusable cup will receive one complimentary drink. (Offer limited to the first 400 customers, one coffee per person.)
- Giving a Puck Reusable Cup: Each guest will take home a reusable cup filled with compost-enriched soil and a coffee tree seed ready to be planted at home.
- A Sneak Peek at Sustainability in Action: The event will highlight the importance of tackling waste and showcase how small, simple changes can make a big difference.
“The action of bringing a reusable cup may seem small, but it marks a big step in creating a community of people who care about sustainability,” Brabant says.
A Movement Backed by Sydney’s Best Cafés
Single O’s leadership on the project has inspired several other well-known Sydney cafés to join the ‘Giving a Puck’ movement. Leading names such as Happyfield, Soulmate Coffee, Superfreak, The Bakery on Glenayr, Three Blue Ducks, and Bills have already come on board. By participating, these venues are not only diverting coffee waste but also setting an example for businesses across Australia to follow suit.
How You Can Support the Movement
Want to take action? Here’s how you can get involved in supporting the ‘Giving a Puck’ initiative:
- Support Local Cafés
Choose to buy your coffee from establishments that are part of this waste-diversion project. Every cup purchased helps scale up the initiative and supports broader sustainability efforts. - Bring Your Reusable Cup
The event is the perfect opportunity to get into the habit of saying no to single-use cups. Bring your reusable cup to Single O Surry Hills on Wednesday, 29 October, and be rewarded with free coffee and other perks. - Spread the Word
Sustainability is a team effort. Share the ‘Giving a Puck’ message with friends and encourage them to support participating cafés or take sustainable actions at home. - Think About Coffee Waste
Start thinking beyond cups. If you brew at home, consider composting your used grounds or donating them to community gardens where possible. Small actions can lead to big change.
Coffee for a Cause
Single O and Reground are proving that sustainability can be delicious, engaging, and impactful. By transforming a problem into an opportunity, they’re helping both businesses and individuals contribute to a cleaner, greener future for New South Wales.
Join the movement and discover how simple it is to ‘Give a Puck’ – because a more sustainable coffee industry benefits us all, one cup at a time.
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