'KompoRize' Supports Green Production

KompoRize, a technology startup established with support from TÜBİTAK's Individual Young Entrepreneur project, today supports green manufacturing by producing 100% biodegradable raw materials from waste tea fibre, offering an alternative to plastic materials. KompoRize Composites and Plastics Industry Founder Mustafa Kuyumcu stated that in their latest products developed through ongoing R&D activities, they have achieved thermoset-thermoplastic and 90% organic and biodegradable structures. Kuyumcu said, "Turkey ranks fifth globally in tea production with approximately 1.2 million tons processed annually. During production, tea fibres constitute approximately 6% of the processed tea volume as production waste. Between 60,000 and 70,000 tons of tea fibres annually are disposed of through burning or decomposition at factories. With our products, we aim not only to valorise this waste generated regionally each year but also to offer a cleaner alternative to pure plastics by reducing the negative environmental impacts of plastics. One of the four different raw materials we produce is 100% biodegradable," he said.   KompoRize Composites and Plastics Industry Founder Mustafa Kuyumcu, noting that within the scope of the project approved at TÜBİTAK in 2017 when the company was established, they conducted R&D activities for the construction sector, recalled that they developed tea fibre-based flooring containing approximately 80% tea fibre and resistant to outdoor conditions. Meanwhile, stating that they have launched an offensive to commercialise the products, Kuyumcu said, "Work has been conducted in the automotive sector for manufacturing certain components inside truck cabins and developing sheets for sound and thermal insulation on ceilings, in the plastic kitchenware field for manufacturing various kitchen items, and finally with a white goods company for manufacturing plastic parts of certain small household appliances. In these development studies, prototype-scale product trials with companies have been completed successfully and we are preparing for the transition to the testing phase in series production," he stated.

"Waste tea fibre reinforced composite production"

Stating that they established a facility in Rize Pazar in 2020 and focused on industrialising trials, Mustafa Kuyumcu also emphasised their desire to introduce a product to the market by producing natural fibre reinforced composites from waste tea fibre, with costs lower than comparable products in Turkey. Kuyumcu, noting that they will apply for patent and trademark registration following mechanisation, continued: "Countries such as Belgium, France and the Netherlands use natural fibre reinforced composites with similar materials contained in flax, hemp, kenaf or cotton. For example, they take the long fibrous part in the flax stem, weave it and produce natural fibre reinforced composite. We also want to produce waste tea fibre reinforced composite as an alternative to these products."   Source