Becoming more environmentally conscious is crucial for protecting the planet and building a greener future. While it may seem overwhelming, simple changes - like adjusting your coffee routine - can make a real difference.

Coffee is a daily staple for many, yet its environmental impact can be overlooked, particularly when it comes to disposal. Each year, an estimated six million tonnes of coffee grounds are discarded, mostly ending up in landfill or being burned.

But what if these coffee grounds could be put to better use? Former royal gardener Jack Stooks - who previously worked at Highgrove Estate - has shared his insights with Coffee Friend on the surprising, lesser-known ways that coffee can be used to benefit your garden.

Meanwhile, the experts at Coffee Friend also reveal their practical tips on how to ensure your coffee habits don't negatively affect your carbon footprint - whether it's choosing the right beans or finding sustainable ways to dispose of your leftovers.

Gardening expert Jack Stooks has shared insights with Coffee Friend on the various uses of coffee grounds in the garden…

Fertiliser: “Coffee grounds can be used in the garden as a fertiliser. Like most fertilisers, it consists of the elements NPK, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. You can sprinkle it all over the borders for home use. As you don’t tend to have too much of it, you just find an area within the border, and be selective in small areas, until all of the borders have been covered.”

Soil: “Coffee grounds are also really good for bringing worms into the garden. They can be used to create air and in turn, helping the soil overall.”

Mulch: “If you were buying coffee in bulk (these packages can be bought from Coffee Friend), it could also be used as a thick mulch to place over the soil and around plants. This can be used in the same way that you would use leaf mould or woodchip in the garden, so to suppress weeds, lock in moisture and act as a physical barrier to the wind and sun.”

Insect repellent: “Coffee grounds are also good at getting rid of insects, such as mosquitos. They can be placed within pots in the outdoor seating areas of your garden.”

Acid-loving plants: “Coffee is also great for acid-loving plants, such as hydrangeas. If you want a really blue hydrangea in your garden, you would want to feed them these coffee grounds in the Autumn months. The coffee will be used as feed within the pots.”

Other household uses: “Coffee grounds can also be used to make body scrubs, for use in the shower or the bath. Building wise, coffee could be used as a replacement for sand, which could then be used to make concrete. It can also be used to make clothing.”