SHORT DESCRIPTION: HaagseZwam is a project born in Netherlands (the country that drinks more coffee). It aims to grow Oyster mushrooms on used coffee grounds. HaagseZwam follows the ideas of “blue economy”: an economic model that consist of turning substances, things, elements usually wasted into a business project. In this way, "green economy" can be considered obsolete and CO2 emissions stopped. Indeed, mushrooms production allows to reduce costs and damages due to chain distribution thanks to bicycle and a better soil and water management: meet can be easily replaced by mushrooms, they are lighter, and smaller and need little quantities of water and nutrients.
KEY ACTIVITIES: HaagseZwam uses coffee grounds to grow Oyster mushrooms. Coffee grounds are full of phosphorus and nitrogen and are very fertile. Commercial activities of the city center provide HaagseZwam with used coffee, bags are filled of this material and hang up on ceiling in a dark room. A very humid environment with controlled temperature is created. This microclimate allows mushrooms to develop mycelium in 3/5 weeks and, after few days, to be harvested. Residue of this process is useful to compost or as fertilizer on a private garden. HaagseZwam tends also to the diffusion and sensitization of this methods and techniques to students, citizens, and commercial activities through labs, didactic activities and guided tours.
RELEVANT DIMENSION: innovative, urban.
BUSINESS MODEL: experimental.
