Key Points
- KUORI turns food byproducts (notably walnut shells and olive pits) into bio-filled TPE granules with 40–70% biobased content today and a roadmap to 100%, designed to shed biodegradable (not persistent) microplastics.
- Performance is approaching standard TPU/PU, with abrasion and water uptake under refinement; carbon footprint is 41% lower and CO₂ emissions ~40% lower than incumbents, with ~500 kg of plastic waste avoided per tonne of material (company data).
- End-of-life is designed for compostability, shifting away from landfill/incineration typical of TPUs; biobased, biodegradable, and product carbon-footprint certifications are in progress for third-party validation.
- Go-to-market is B2B(2C) via manufacturer integration; pilots span fashion and outdoor (incl. Wildling) with target uses such as handles, shoe soles, skateboard and stroller wheels, and watch straps; automotive is a near-term opportunity.
- Strategic aim is a post-oil elastomer replacement: drop-in granules compatible with existing processes, circular feedstocks, and tighter EU regulation tailwinds to scale across consumer and industrial goods.
Full interview with KUORI
What inspired the inception of KUORI, and how did you identify the potential of food byproducts as a resource for circular materials?
KUORI was born during my studies in product and industrial design. The inspiration struck when I realised that about a third of a banana – its peel – was being discarded unused. The aim was to utilise these food byproducts (today primarily walnut shells and olive pits) to develop circular materials while simultaneously preventing the spread of harmful microplastics in the environment.
The initial spark came during a course on alchemistics, which focused on exploring new resources and moving away from fossil-based ones. I initially experimented with banana peels, a readily available side stream, which paved the way for the exploration of other underutilised resources. This journey led to the identification of the potential of food byproducts as valuable resources for circular materials in a wide range of different industries.
Can you detail KUORI's technological process behind transforming food byproducts like banana peels and nutshells into usable granules for manufacturing?
KUORI's innovative technology for producing sustainable, high-quality plastic granulates is based on food by-products such as walnut shells and olive pits as bio-fillers in thermoplastic elastomers (TPE). KUORI's materials thus replace conventional (fossil), non-biodegradable rubbers and elastomers with a bioplastic that emits biodegradable microplastics during the lifespan of the products.
KUORI transforms unused food by-products into a valuable resource by incorporating them in high proportions into the bioplastic matrix to modify the material properties. This process not only allows us to produce biodegradable materials with bio-based and recycled components but also opens versatile application possibilities and tailor-made material solutions for customers.
How do KUORI's materials compare with traditional and other biobased alternatives in terms of performance metrics such as strength, elasticity, and environmental impact?
We compare our materials to standard TPUs (Thermoplastic Polyurethane) and Pus (Polyurethane). The performance is quite similar, although we are still refining aspects like abrasion resistance and water uptake.
Our focus is on creating biopolymers that don't absorb too much water but can still decompose effectively. Our solution boasts a proven 5x ecological advantage, revolutionising sustainability standards. Overall, our material has a PCF (Product Carbon Footprint) 41% lower compared to the fossil-based thermoplastic polyurethane materials.
The biobased content brings several environmental advantages. Biobased materials are considered circular since they are derived from renewable biological sources (in our case: walnut shells and olive pits), biobased materials have the potential to degrade naturally, meaning they can break down into natural components like carbon dioxide, water, and biomass through biological processes like composting or anaerobic digestion.
Regarding carbon dioxide emissions, when it comes to biobased materials, we consider a circular flow of carbon between the biosphere and the atmosphere. The carbon in biobased materials originates from atmospheric carbon dioxide captured by plants during their growth, unlike fossil carbon which is released into the atmosphere from geological reservoirs.
By using plant-based components, we reduce reliance on non-renewable resources. Roughly calculated, each ton of KUORI’s material prevents approx. 500 kg of plastic waste from reaching landfills. Currently, our granules result in a 40% reduction in CO2 emissions compared to traditional materials in the industry.
Could you discuss the lifecycle assessment of KUORI's products, particularly focusing on the end-of-life stage?
The life cycle assessment of our products is highly important for us since we aim to create circular materials that are less harmful to the environment and human life.
Hence, each life cycle stage is reviewed carefully to understand the impacts of our activities and their comparison against producing the materials used in a business-as-usual (BAU) scenario.
In this regard, we value taking into consideration the end-of-life stage as it proposes a large shift from the current BAU scenario: standard TPUs often end up in waste incineration facilities or landfills.
According to the "Ocean Care Report - Plastics Matter" approximately 700,000 tonnes of plastic waste, representing 90% of Switzerland's total plastic waste, is incinerated annually in one of the country’s 30 waste incineration plants (WIPs) or cement works. Meanwhile, our products will possess the technological capability to return to the soil as compost to close the cycle.
In the transition to a post-oil economy, how does KUORI navigate the regulatory and certification landscape?
Undoubtably, it is important to obtain certain certificates to make eventual sustainability claims, and we are obtaining those labels. With several different labels and certification types emerging in recent years, it is no easy task to pick out suitable and trustworthy labels. Currently, we are in the process of obtaining the labels for biobased, biodegradable, and product carbon footprint. Generally, we aim to ensure the highest transparency for our materials and work closely together with recognised certification bodies within the EU to track the latest developments in regulations and certification standards.
With KUORI operating on a B2B(2C) model, how do you work with manufacturers to integrate your granules into their production processes, and what has been the industry reception so far?
As a B2B enterprise, we provide cutting-edge eco-friendly alternative-plastic granules tailored seamlessly for diverse sectors, including fashion, outdoor equipment, tools, and toys.
In our first material, we achieve a biobased content of about 40-70% aiming to go to 100% biobased in future materials. In a regular TPU, this biobased content is 100% fossil-based.
As mentioned before, our granules result in a 40% reduction in CO2 emissions compared to traditional materials in the industry.
In working with manufacturers, we collaborate closely to integrate our granules into their production processes. This collaboration involves understanding their specific manufacturing requirements and optimising our material to ensure compatibility and efficiency. We provide technical support, guidance, and assistance throughout the integration process to ensure a smooth transition.
Regarding industry reception, we have received positive feedback and interest across various sectors. We started with Wildling in the minimal shoe sector and have since engaged in various pilots across industries like fashion and outdoor. Our focus applications include handles, shoe soles, skateboard wheels, stroller wheels, and watch straps. While we cannot disclose all our partners due to NDAs, we are actively collaborating with manufacturers to implement our sustainable materials.
The automotive industry presents promising opportunities due to its urgent need for sustainable alternatives. Similarly, the outdoor industry recognises the importance of reducing environmental impact, making it a significant focus area for us. Additionally, the fashion industry is embracing sustainable practices, making it another key sector for our materials.
