Coffee drinkers in Kobe who are wondering what they can do to help the environment and support local renewable energy projects might consider heading to a Starbucks.
Last December, as part of a local effort to increase alternative energy sources, the city teamed up with Starbucks and researchers at Kindai University to carry out tests on producing biomass fuel generated from, among other things, used coffee grounds. The plan is to produce a solid fuel called "biocoke" that uses pruned trees, paper cups and used coffee grounds.
"This is a good example of how local governments, industry and the academic community can cooperate to create a sustainable society at the local level," the city said in announcing the project.