Arka Irfani, CEO of Bell Living AB, who believes sustainable innovation should be part of everyday life, addresses this issue through a circular value chain. The Bell Living Lab turns agricultural waste, such as coffee husks and grounds, into high-value bio-based materials, enabling farmers and small businesses to earn additional income while reducing environmental impact. He empowers local artisans to transform these materials, including leather alternatives, boards, and foams into products like bags, wallets, and furniture.
To date, Bell Living Lab has collaborated with three coffee farming communities, supporting around 150 to increase their income by up to 20%. The enterprise has also worked with over 610 coffee shops in Bandung and the surrounding areas, collecting over 300 tonnes of coffee waste annually, preventing its disposal in landfills where decomposition releases methane, a potent greenhouse gas, and turning a disposal challenge into a profitable and environmentally responsible practice.
Additionally, the enterprise runs skills development programmes and provides job opportunities for local youth in biomaterials and design. They have trained and hosted four vocational students, with three completing internships and one joining the team as a full-time sample maker.
Looking ahead, Bell Living Lab plans to share their innovations with international brands and partners, showing how coffee waste can be transformed into valuable, eco-friendly materials. By demonstrating this, they hope businesses will use more sustainable materials in their operations.
Programme support
Through the I-SEA Programme with Instellar, we’ll support Bell Living Lab’s efforts to empower communities, reduce pollution, and promote bio-based practices that benefit both people and the planet.
We look forward to supporting their commitment to making sustainability innovative and accessible, ensuring that conservation efforts deliver tangible benefits for communities and the environment.
