Food companies are increasingly adopting programs to recycle waste leftover from the production process.
Starbucks Coffee Japan Ltd. launched a "food recycle loop" system in March to recycle its coffee grounds into compost to grow vegetables and feed cows. The vegetables grown and milk produced end up being served at its shops.
Authorized as a project under the food recycling law, which requires food companies to recycle waste substances if a certain amount is produced, the program is the first to use coffee grounds.