Lavazza has partnered with Melbourne-based recycling company Reground to launch a new Australian Open based sustainability initiative on 23 January.

Reground will divert used coffee grounds from Lavazza’s Garden Square and Grand Slam Café at the Australian Open and recycle them to help grow local community gardens.

“We are so excited to be working with both Lavazza and Tennis Australia for the Australian Open this year –it’s certainly a first for us in terms of size and scale,” says Ninna Larsen, Founder of Reground.

“Coffee grounds are perfect for composting and will help improve soil health. We’re looking forward to seeing how Melbourne’s community gardens will flourish this time next year.”

The companies predict more than 200,000 coffees will be sold across the two-week event and the initiative will reduce the impact of greenhouse gases.

“Lavazza has been driving sustainability goals globally for many years, which recently saw us rank as the top food and beverage brand in the 2019 Reputation Institute’s Corporate Responsibility report,” says Silvio Zaccareo, Lavazza Australia Managing Director.

“This is just another example of our commitment to growing our environmental responsibilities at the Australian Open and in turn, the wider community.”