In this article we talk about three promising circular economy startups that base their business model on this new paradigm.
Waste management is one of the greatest challenges that our economic system must face. This problem is created by the linear economy approach, which is based on the idea of “produce-use-dispose”.
The circular economy model, instead, is based on the concepts of reusing and recycling the waste we create, making it a new source of materials and energy.
The adoption of this new approach is linked to innovation and disruption of the current paradigm, and this is something that great startups always do.
This kind of projections make us understand that our current economic system is not sustainable and that we are creating problems that we need to solve also for future generations.
The solution is to rethink the way we produce and use products, by having a restorative approach and by extending their life-cycle.
This model is not only beneficial for the environment and the consumers, but also for businesses since they would be able to cut production costs.
Three Promising Circular Economy Startups
Startups are the champions of innovation and disruption, and that is why the most interesting ideas to adopt the circular economy system are coming from them. Here you can find a selection of some of the most promising circular economy startups:
Chemicle is a startup that is using dairy waste for the production of bio-plastic materials, with a process that is less expensive than the one used to produce plant-based bio-plastics.
This circular economy startup, founded UK by Italian entrepreneurs Riccardo Bacile and Alessandro Toni, uses chemistry and aims at creating a zero waste production system by turning waste into valuable products.
Kleiderly saves disposed textiles and fabrics from the landfill and recycles them into a plastic material that they use to produce sustainable eyewear.
Founded by Alina Bassi and Dave Bassi in Germany and with the production process based in Italy, this innovative startup wants to create a circular fashion industry.
Their flagship product is called Nepenthes and it’s a refillable bottle for shampoo and body wash, made from 50% of bio-plastics, that substitutes disposable bottles.
Every day, we hear more and more about the Green Economy.
The goal of this article is to understand why the focus is shifting towards this phenomenon, what are the advantages of this economic system and what are the innovative Start-Ups in this sector. Read the article to discover more!
The green economy is an economic model that previews the reduction of the environmental impact, in favor of sustainable development. It’s a type of economy that takes into account the environmental aspect, as well as the economic one.
An economy that generates growth, creates jobs and eradicates poverty by investing and safeguarding the resources of natural capital on which the survival of our planet depends.
This economic model aims at reducing air pollutant emissions, such as carbon dioxide. Moreover, it represents the only weapon to combat poverty in developing areas, where most of the economy is based on natural resources.
A theoretical model of economic development based on an improvement in human well-being and social equity, capable of ensuring at the same time a significant reduction in environmental risks and ecological scarcity.
The green economy is a very advantageous sector to invest in, especially for economic, labor and sustainable competitiveness, especially in a country as rich in renewable energy sources as Italy.
The advantages of the Green Economy are of natural, economic and social interest:
Production of alternative renewable energies with a lower impact on the environment, such as green technologies (wind, solar, biomass…);
Greater efficiency and less waste, using products and services that consume less energy;
Less impact on the environment, reducing the issues of the greenhouse effect and global warming;
Creation of new jobs, with new industries and markets.
Innovative Start-Ups
The Green economy has seen many Italian Start-Ups achieve success thanks to their innovations, ranging from photovoltaic bike paths to electric marine motors, fabrics made from citrus and machines that turn undifferentiated waste into raw materials.
In this article, we offer some examples of innovative Start-Ups.
BYS Italia
Among the most promising Startups on the Italian scene is BYS Italia.
Bicy Solar Street is an innovative startup that creates cycle-pedestrian paths integrated with photovoltaic energy production systems in the pavement. The energy generated is then transferred to adjacent energy-intensive subjects.
The company is promoted by InfinityHub, a holding company that develops energy efficiency projects.
This is the first European equity crowdfunding to produce energy from renewable sources through photovoltaic cycle-pedestrian paths.
Grycle Srl
Grycle Srl has developed a machine that automatically separates waste, reducing its volume by over 90% and allowing it to be reused.
The technology uses light to recognize the materials in undifferentiated waste, which are first reduced in volume and then transformed into raw materials.
Founded on February 5th, 2014 in Catania by Adriana Santanocito and Enrica Arena, the aim of the start-up is to create a recognizable, sustainable brand with commitment to the environment and transparency of the entire production chain at the heart of it.
In 2017 the designer Salvatore Ferragamo created a capsule of designer-printed shirts, dresses, trousers and scarves, called Ferragamo Orange Fiber Collection, in collaboration with Orange Fiber.
U-Earth
The London-based sustainable startup U-Earth was born in 2018 from an idea of Betta Maggio. Through the use of cutting-edge biotechnologies, their goal is to clean tons of polluted air.
The air purification solution developed by U-Earth is divided in four steps:
Capture all air polluting molecules, attracting them electrically;
EcoBrick Exchange is a South African start-up that wants to combine green building techniques with community participation and childhood education activities.
The company has created reusable refractory bricks made from plastic waste that can be easily produced by local residents. In collaboration with local communities, it also builds low-cost buildings as childcare centers.
Recently we have seen a lot of acquisitions of successful startups by great corporations. Follow this guide to effectively prepare your startup to an acquisition and avoid chances of failure.
