Swiss Partners
NaturLoop AG, Biel
www.naturloop.com
Michail Kyriazopoulos
Local Partner
ProSource International, Inc., San Juan City
www.prosourcecoconut.com
Quezon Federation and Union of Cooperatives (QUFCO)
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Swiss Contribution
For eight years, Swiss start-up NaturLoop has been developing a technology for manufacturing building boards made from coconut shell fibers and a biological adhesive. NaturLoop and its partners at Bern University of Applied Sciences are overseeing the transfer of knowledge and expertise to establish a supply chain to produce Cocoboard®.
Description
In the Philippines, coconut farming generates nearly 5 million tons of organic waste each year. Due to a lack of technical and logistical means, only 5 to 10% of the coconut husks are currently recycled. To exploit this resource in a sustainable way, NaturLoop is coordinating the establishment of a pilot Consolidation Centre (CC) to transform organic waste into Cocoboard®. This project aims to optimize a complete production chain, from the collection of coconut husks to the manufacture of building panels. By 2025, NaturLoop aims to produce 30,000m3 of Cocoboard®. This agglomerated material is an advantageous alternative to the use of wood.
Results
The pilot Consolidation Centre (CC) has been finalized and construction is complete. The facility is operational and processes around 200–250 kg of coconut husks each month. All major building components and process-flow stations are in place. Technical commissioning has confirmed that the centre meets the design specifications. The centre’s activation marks a key milestone in establishing a scalable husk supply chain. It provides a ready platform for further expansion and replication across the Philippines.