An idea becomes a real impact
Who is behind limu.eco?
Timo Geuggis is the founder and mastermind behind the Zurich-based startup limu.eco. Since 2020, he has been working tirelessly to transform biomass from our local rivers and lakes into a high-quality raw material. He’s the best person to explain how it all came about.
A versatile raw material – straight from our waters?!
I grew up in the city of Zurich and spent a lot of time at our beautiful Lake Zurich.
I’ve noticed time and again that a boat stops in the harbors or at the boat slips and pulls enormous amounts of biomass onto its deck. After doing my research, I found out that this is a “mowing boat.”
«I kept noticing this floating vessel – and soon I realized it was a ‘mowing boat.’»
Timo Geuggis
The path to the new raw material
The fact that most of the biomass is disposed of as waste after mowing has been on my mind ever since. I gave a lot of thought to what could be done with this material. After countless experiments and promising results, I knew that my concept for transforming a complex raw material into high-value additives worked.
It became clear to me that the idea needed a home, so I founded limu.eco GmbH in 2024. Today, we have in-depth knowledge and expertise in how to enhance this versatile raw material using specially developed processes without losing any of its valuable components.
Through our network of research groups, biopolymer producers, manufacturers of sustainable products, government agencies, and others, we are now working intensively to advance value creation step by step.
Do you have to transport the raw materials over long distances?
No. With our business model, we deliberately keep transport distances extremely short. Although the aquatic waste generated locally is not (yet) fully processed directly at the source, it is transported over the shortest possible distances to our first pilot site.
As a result, the entire value chain remains rooted in the region, and the environmental impact of transportation is kept to a minimum.
Are your actions sustainable?
Absolutely – our entire business model is focused on genuine, measurable sustainability. We use an existing aquatic waste stream as a versatile source of raw materials.
In concrete terms, this means:
- no additional land required
- no competition with the food industry
- no irrigation
- no fertilizers
- and no unnecessary interference with biodiversity
We exclusively use materials that would otherwise have to be removed and disposed of.
In addition to the benefits we generate through our additives, significant added value is created simply through the processing of biomass. We transform an existing waste stream into a regional resource, thereby reducing environmental impact, transportation distances, and disposal costs.
This creates impact on two levels – within the material itself and across the entire value chain. A linear waste stream is thus transformed into ecological, social and economic value – flexible, scalable and future-oriented.
-> This is what we mean by true sustainability – ©limu.eco GmbH
Can you tell me a little more about the additive?
Our first additive is designed to make the biological breakdown of biodegradable plastics significantly more efficient. This is just the beginning – more additive variants are planned – stay tuned!
Where does limu.eco stand right now?
At our pilot site, we are now able to convert aquatic biomass from watercourse maintenance into storable material within a short period of time. We are continuously refining our upcycling process with the clear goal of achieving industrial maturity in the near future.
In addition, we have successfully demonstrated that our material solution can be processed using both injection molding and film extrusion. We have made significant progress in a short time and continue to move forward at full pace.
We actively seek out exciting use cases to ensure that our additive portfolio is consistently aligned with real customer needs and to further develop it.
We welcome you to get in touch – with no obligation.