Eco Napkins Made With Coffee Silver Skin Blend

Coffee shops go through thousands of napkins daily—but what if those napkins could help cut down on virgin pulp use while giving a second life to a little-known coffee byproduct? In Japan, a creative partnership has turned a previously discarded part of the coffee bean into a functional, more absorbent paper product used in cafes nationwide.

The new napkins are made with a blend that includes coffee silver skin, cutting traditional wood pulp usage and improving key paper traits. They’ve already replaced standard napkins in over 1,000 Tully’s Coffee locations and will be sold across Japan starting September.

What Is Coffee Silver Skin?

Coffee silver skin is the thin, silvery membrane that clings to the outer layer of green coffee beans. During mechanical hulling, most of it is removed, and any remaining typically comes off during roasting. Until recently, it was often treated as waste—but not anymore.

How the Silver Skin Napkins Are Made

To create the eco-napkins, ITO EN and Mizobata collect recycled coffee silver skin from coffee beverage companies. This material is then blended into the pulp mix used to manufacture standard paper napkins. The resulting product maintains the look and basic feel of regular napkins—but with measurable improvements.

Why It’s Better: Performance and Sustainability

These silver skin-blended napkins aren’t just greener—they perform better. Compared to conventional napkins, the new version offers improved absorbency and a softer, more pleasant tactile feel. More importantly, using recycled silver skin reduces the amount of virgin wood pulp needed in production, helping save natural resources.

Where You’ll Find Them

Tully’s Coffee, one of Japan’s largest specialty coffee chains, began using the silver skin napkins in all its stores in late July. The product will be available for retail purchase across Japan starting in early September. The collaboration behind the innovation includes Mizobata (a printing and paper products company) and ITO EN (a major beverage and materials firm).

Frequently Asked Questions

What is coffee silver skin?

Coffee silver skin is the thin, shiny outer layer that covers green coffee beans. It is usually removed during the hulling and roasting processes and was historically considered a waste product.

How is coffee silver skin turned into napkins?

The recycled silver skin is blended with traditional paper pulp to produce napkins. This mixture maintains the appearance of normal napkins but enhances absorbency and reduces the need for virgin wood pulp.

Which companies developed the silver skin napkins?

The napkins were jointly developed by Mizobata (a paper and printing company) and ITO EN (a beverage and materials corporation). They were first introduced in Tully’s Coffee locations across Japan.

When did Tully’s start using the new napkins?

Tully’s Coffee began using the silver skin-blended napkins in all of its stores in late July, with national retail availability starting in early September.

Are the silver skin napkins more absorbent?

Yes, according to the report, the napkins made with coffee silver skin have better absorbency than standard napkins, along with a softer hand feel.

What are the environmental benefits of these napkins?

The napkins reduce the demand for virgin wood pulp by incorporating recycled coffee silver skin, contributing to more sustainable paper production and less resource use.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Eco-Conscious Brewing

If you’re brewing coffee with sustainability in mind, try FrontStreet Coffee’s Ethiopia Yirgacheffe for bright citrus and floral notes, or Colombia Huila for balanced caramel and nuttiness. Both are single origins that highlight quality without waste. For something richer, the Ethiopia Sidamo offers berry and winey tones. All are great examples of traceable, responsibly sourced beans. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.