Announcements
EF Polymer K.K. (Headquarters: Okinawa, Japan; Founder & CEO: Narayan Lal Gurjar), a developer of 100% organic superabsorbent polymers, and TLALOC BLUE Co., Ltd., an OIST-based startup focused on organic waste upcycling, today announced that they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
Through this partnership, EF Polymer’s water retention and aggregation technology will be integrated with TLALOC BLUE’s organic waste processing platform to advance sustainable waste management and resource circulation systems in island regions. The companies will conduct scale-up demonstration projects on Kumejima and Miyakojima, targeting the processing of up to 3 tons of organic waste per day.
In Okinawa, a wide range of organic byproducts generated from local specialties—such as mozuku seaweed, awamori distillation residue, tofu pulp (okara), and shikuwasa citrus—remain underutilized, with a significant portion discarded due to challenges in handling and processing. These issues create cost and operational burdens for local producers and processors.
TLALOC BLUE has developed an integrated approach to converting organic waste into high-value outputs such as protein sources and nutrient-rich compost using insects and worms. However, the treatment of high-moisture and low-cohesion waste streams has remained a technical challenge.
Under this collaboration, TLALOC BLUE has incorporated EF Polymer’s products into its waste processing workflow, improving moisture control and aggregation of organic waste and thereby enhancing processing efficiency.
Following further validation at the laboratory level, the companies will initiate scale-up trials in Kumejima and Miyakojima. The processed outputs are expected to be repurposed as crab feed and high-value compost, contributing to a locally integrated circular model where waste generated within the region is reused across industries.
Narayan Lal Gurjar, Founder & CEO, EF Polymer says “Our collaboration with TLALOC BLUE is rooted in a shared vision of unlocking value from underutilized resources. We believe our technology can enhance the efficiency of organic waste processing while contributing to the development of a circular economy model in Okinawa.”
Karim Honein, Founder & CEO, TLALOC BLUE says “In exploring circular economy opportunities in island regions, we have been inspired by the Japanese concept of ‘mottainai,’ which reflects a deep respect for resources. Through this initiative, we aim to unlock the potential of underutilized biomass and contribute to the creation of new, sustainable industries.”
About EF Polymer
EF Polymer is a deep-tech startup born in India and nurtured in Japan. By upcycling agricultural residues such as orange and banana peels into 100% bio-based super absorbent polymers, EF Polymer provides sustainable solutions for agriculture and beyond. The company also promotes applications in cosmetics, personal care products, and ice-packs, helping industries achieve green transformation (GX). Through its technology, EF Polymer strives to solve global environmental challenges, particularly water scarcity. https://efpolymer.com/
About TLALOC BLUE
TLALOC BLUE is an AI-powered deep-tech startup based in Okinawa, Japan, developing circular biowaste infrastructure for island and coastal economies. By transforming organic waste into high-value resources through integrated multispecies systems combining insects, earthworms, and microalgae, the company enables resource recapture, reduces environmental impact, and supports decarbonization efforts. TLALOC BLUE combines biological processes with real-time monitoring and digital twin technology to build scalable, resilient, and sustainable waste-to-value ecosystems. https://tlalocblue.com/
