KUORI: From shell to sole

Plastic is omnipresent in our world, with its microparticles now even present in the air, the ocean and our bodies. In Switzerland alone, 600 tonnes of microplastics end up in our environment every year, a large portion of which is caused by tyre and shoe sole abrasion. This constant pollution poses a risk to our ecosystems as well as our health.

Bio-based plastics without microplastics

The KUORI project aims to counter this problem by joining forces with the Migros Pioneer Fund to develop bio-based, biodegradable materials in granulate form. These materials are intended to replace environmentally harmful fossil materials in the production of tyres and shoe soles, for example. KUORI's bio-based plastic alternatives contain by-products from existing production processes and side streams of the food industry, such as olive pits and nut shells, thus giving them a new life and putting them to good use. This not only replaces fossil resources with renewable ones, but also reduces waste and creates new cycles.

Moving towards a post-fossil plastics industry

KUORI's aim is to develop substances from circular raw materials and make them available to manufacturers for their production processes, giving the resulting products a smaller environmental footprint and ensuring that no persistent microplastics are left behind. In this way, the project aims to make a long-term contribution to a post-fossil, sustainable plastics industry.