Founded in 2022 in Switzerland, Kuori is a young startup dedicated to transitioning into a post-petroleum economy. The team leverages food by-products – such as olive pits and walnut shells – to develop novel bio-based, biodegradable, and elastic materials that are earth-friendly have a patent pending. To gain a deeper understanding of Kuori’s origins and the potential of their elastic solutions, we interviewed Sarah Harbarth, CEO and founder of the startup.
KUORI started as a university project at UDK Berlin aimed at reusing banana peels as a resource for alternative plastic. Today, it’s a startup that transforms various food industry by-products into valuable biomaterials. Can you tell us how KUORI started and what resources you are using today?
Sarah: KUORI was born during my industrial design studies: looking at plastic products, my interest was in finding alternatives to fossil-based materials to create more circular products, since we are so reliant on fossil resources in plastic production. Initially, I was interested in using banana peels as a resource, since one-third of the fruit is not eaten but considered as waste. I tried to explore the food waste stream more deeply through activities related to material sciences and chemical processes. Once we examined the banana peel supply chain, we found it to be very inefficient and lacking a collection system, making it difficult to access a consistent supply. We now primarily use olive pits and walnut shells, as they are easier to source in the quantities we need for mass production.
KUORI doesn’t sell one product but rather granular material that can be used to manufacture a wide variety of products. Can you tell us more about this choice and the applications of your materials?
Sarah: We provide the material in granular form because our goal is to be a B2B company, selling directly to manufacturers in the automotive or sports industry, for example. We work closely with them, building relationships with customers and companies themselves, guiding them, and suggesting the best solution.
As for applications, our main material, BIOWA, can be used in various processes such as 3D printing, injection molding, compression molding, and extrusion. We’re currently working on our first filament, which will be available on our website, so stay tuned for updates!
What materials does KUORI produce? Are they compostable?
Sarah: Our portfolio includes three materials: the first is BIOWA, created with olive pits and walnut shells, which we are scaling for large-scale production. It’s a biocomposite material in which we mix various biofillers, biopolymers, and eco-friendly additives to ensure its bio-based, biodegradable, and elastic. BIOWA belongs to the TPE (thermoplastic elastomers) class of materials and is currently produced in the ton scale.
The second is an elastic PHA, which is quite a novelty in the market. It’s currently produced on a kilogram scale and is under development, supported by European Union grants. Our third material, the latest innovation, is crosslinked rubber, produced on a gram scale.
These three materials share common characteristics: they are all elastic, bio-based, biodegradable, and some are recyclable. At KUORI, we are particularly focused on elastic biopolymers.
What challenges have you faced in scaling up production?
Sarah: There are many challenges, including finding the right processes and suppliers. In Switzerland, there aren’t many suitable partners for our materials, so we’re focusing on Europe and Asia to optimize the supply chain. Different materials present different challenges when scaling production. With biopolymers, it’s about managing the material supply without directly competing with the food industry.
Is there already a market for your materials?
Sarah: We focus on the fashion, automotive and outdoor sectors – automotive customers are particularly sensitive to nature and environmental protection.
Our target includes products subject to high abrasion, such as shoes and small wheels, on scooters or strollers, for example. The microplastics generated from the use of these items are pervasive and, once in the environment, remain there for a long time, taking decades to decompose and persist in ecosystems. This is an important point for customers, as many are unaware of the pollution created by the abrasion of everyday products, and it’s often eye-opening for them. With the KUORI material abrasion still occurs but our materials can decompose in nature, leaving no toxic residues behind.
We are open and honest, advising on the right material for the most appropriate use. For long-lasting, high-performance products, a biodegradable material might not be the best choice.
Do you have any advice on how to live more sustainably?
Sarah: We often fall into a mindset where we think we are the only ones wanting to do something for the environment around us, to live in a circular way, but it doesn’t matter – every single effort counts. Moreover, we should all strive to improve and rethink our consumption methods. It’s not just the companies’ responsibility, but also that of customers and governments to rethink production and challenge previous methods.
In many industries, we find products that are over-engineered for their intended purpose. For example, the design and production of shoes are primarily centered around performance. Companies prioritize performance-driven quality without considering how long the product should last. Statistics show that, on average, we wear shoes for six months, but they are designed to last ten years, much longer than we actually use them. Many customers have specific requirements, and we help them question these through data and research. We need to adapt to a more circular production model and rethink the lifespan of our products.
Kuori is a young startup following an interesting path — not only by using waste as a resource but also by developing bio-based, biodegradable, and elastic solutions. For more details about the startup, visit Kuori’s website and follow their Instagram page!
Photo courtesy KUORI unless stated otherwise