Sustainability Graduate Spotlight - Kieran Coffey
It is reported that 20-30% of total human-created greenhouse gas emissions globally are attributable to food system activities. Food waste is an especially pressing issue in the context of climate-related threats to food security and rising political instability worldwide. Compounding this challenge is the substantial contribution food waste makes to greenhouse gas emissions at 10% globally.
In this edition of the Sustainability Graduate Spotlight series, we are focusing on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production. Addressing food waste is central to achieving SDG 12 which calls for more efficient use of resources and significant reductions in waste across the food system.
This edition of the Sustainability Graduate Spotlight highlights how applied innovation can turn this global challenge into a practical solution through the work of TU Dublin graduate Kieran Coffey.
Kieran Coffey
Kieran is the founder of AmuGreen and the creator of MyGug, a micro-scale anaerobic digester designed to tackle food waste. From an early age, Kieran was fascinated by how things work. Growing up he was always taking appliances apart and he spent hours dismantling and repairing machines, which sparked his interest in studying engineering. Today, Kieran leads AmuGreen, focusing on MyGug, a micro-scale anaerobic digester. Anaerobic digestion is a natural biological process that breaks down food waste and converts it into energy and nutrients. The biogas that it produces can be used for cooking, alongside a nutrient-rich liquid fertiliser that supports food growing. Not only does food waste get converted into something useful, but it also reduces carbon emissions that would otherwise have been emitted from food waste. Kieran now supplies anaerobic digesters commercially and he is committed to engaging with schools and universities, where the system can be used as teaching tool.
Educational Experience
Kieran graduated from Bolton Street (now TU Dublin) with a degree in Mechanical Engineering in the early 1990s. Later, he pursued environmental studies at Manchester University, deepening his commitment to sustainable development.
Applying New Skills & Knowledge
Kieran reflects on how his mechanical engineering degree gave him a solid grounding in both theory and hands‑on practice. The strong focus on applied engineering helped him build the skills and confidence needed to design and develop innovative systems. This was particularly evident in his final‑year project, where he created a small‑scale anaerobic digester, an early prototype an early prototype that would go on to shape the direction of his career years later.
Looking back, Kieran describes his time at Bolton Street as a formative academic period that strengthened his engineering foundations and equipped him to deliver practical innovations, ultimately leading to the co‑founding of AmuGreen. He also notes that the friendships formed during his studies have endured, remaining a valued part of his professional and personal life.
What does #TUDublinSustainability mean to you?
#TUDublinSustainability for me means recognising the transformative role of education in turning awareness into action. It means combining practical learning, environmental consciousness and a willingness to think differently to lead on innovations that benefit both people and the planet. It is also about innovation and being able to see a problem differently and daring to create a solution that others haven’t imagined yet. For me, that solution is turning food waste into energy and nutrients closing the loop for a better future.