Eco startups across the world have been taking on climate change with innovative solutions in 2023. From repurposed waste to clean energy solutions, these companies and their passionate founders are leading the charge toward a more sustainable future.
These top 50 standout startups are setting new standards and proving that a more sustainable future could be approaching. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at these 50 startups and how they’re making a real impact on environmental sustainability.
In this article, we will explore numbers 26-50 on the list. You can find the remaining top 25 startups here.
26. GoUnpackaged
Founder: Catherine Conway
Website: https://gounpackaged.com/
Launched in 2023, GoUnpackaged’s goal has been to combat single-use packaging. The company uses an efficient infrastructure of washing and logistics providers to safely wash and refill packaging.
Instead of solely relying on recycling, they focus on reusing. With strong support from local and national governments, GoUnpackaged contributes to the growth of the reuse sector, fostering job creation and economic benefits.
27. Olio
Founder: Tessa Clarke and Saasha Celestial-One
Website: https://olioapp.com/
Olio is a community-driven platform that allows users to turn their surplus into shared opportunities. By connecting neighbours and local businesses, Olio facilitates the sharing of excess items that would otherwise go to waste.
Whether it’s fresh produce, pantry items, or non-food belongings like clothing, tech, books, and furniture, Olio provides a simple and sustainable solution. Users take a photo, add it to the app, and wait for requests for collection. Olio not only declutters lives but also contributes to a more connected, sustainable, and compassionate world.
28. AMP
Founder: Dr. Matanya Horowitz
Website: https://www.amprobotics.com/
Amp Robotics uses AI to identify and recover recyclables at unprecedented speed and precision. By digitising vast quantities of images, the company captures extensive data on diverse materials, packaging, and containers, automating the recovery process for even the most challenging materials.
Amp Robotics partners with businesses, governments, and NGOs, empowering them to achieve higher recycling rates and increase the supply of post-consumer recycled content. The company’s advanced technology transforms previously deemed contaminants into valuable resources for recovery and reuse across various sectors, from plastics and paper to metals, construction, electronics, and organics.
29. Grain
Founder: Jason Dodier, Matt Boujonnier, and Ryan Letourneau
Website: https://www.grainecosystem
Grain is dedicated to expediting decarbonisation using carbon credits. Their tools empower project developers to navigate the Voluntary Carbon Market efficiently, facilitating access to crucial financing for project activities.
Through our digital platform, developers can assess project eligibility, quantify carbon removal, calculate profitability, and seamlessly connect with investors, making participation in the carbon market more accessible and efficient than ever before.
30. Grow a Wish
Founder: Fabiënne Overbeek
Website: https://www.growawish.nl/
Based in the Netherlands, Grow a Wish, founded by entrepreneur Fabiënne Overbeek in 2019, redefines greeting cards by embedding seeds into plantable paper, transforming each card into a blooming memory.
With a commitment to sustainability, the company collaborates with Growingpaper, ensuring high-quality printing and a socially responsible production process in South Africa. Beyond innovative products, Grow a Wish allocates part of its profits to charitable causes, embodying a vision to create lasting moments of happiness and contribute to a more sustainable future.
31. TALA
Founder: Grace Beverley
Website: https://www.wearetala.com/
TALA offers sustainably-made activewear that excels in performance, fit, quality, and style. The brainchild of founder Grace Beverley, TALA emerged from her realisation that, despite the increasing popularity of activewear, the industry lacked sustainable options that were both ethically produced and reasonably priced.
Through thoughtfully designed collections made from recycled and naturally sourced materials, TALA aims to provide wardrobe staples that are versatile and enduring. Beyond products, TALA is committed to addressing environmental impact in packaging, operations, and promoting circularity, demonstrating a holistic approach to conscious living and responsible consumption.
32. Xampla
Founder: Dr Marc Rodriguez Garcia
Website: https://xampla.com/
Originating as a participant in the 2021 Rethinking Materials summit, Xampla has rapidly grown into a 25-strong international team, showcasing its groundbreaking natural polymer film based on 15 years of University of Cambridge research. In collaboration with Gousto, the company introduced the world’s first edible stock cube wrapper made from pea protein.
As a Gold Partner for the 2022 Rethinking Materials summit, Xampla aims to foster global collaborations. They aim to be a key player in driving the shift towards eco-friendly alternatives and reducing plastic waste across diverse packaging applications.
33. Karma
Founder: Hjalmar Ståhlberg Nordegren, Ludvig Berling, Mattis Larsson and Elsa Bernadotte
Website: https://www.karma.life/sv
Karma connects users with food establishments willing to sell unsold food at lower prices. Restaurants, cafes, and grocery stores can upload surplus food to their app and users can buy it at a discount.
Karma’s mission is to reduce food waste globally, shifting towards a more sustainable society. This user-friendly platform allows users to rescue food, instead of letting it go to waste.
34. Coral Vita
Founder: Gator Halpern and Sam Teicher
Website: https://www.coralvita.co/
Coral Vita, founded by a team of environmental entrepreneurs, is dedicated to preserving and restoring coral reefs through innovative methods. The company creates high-tech coral farms that leverage breakthrough techniques, enabling the rapid growth of coral with increased resilience to the challenges posed by warming and acidifying oceans.
In collaboration with leading marine institutes, Coral Vita’s scientific team outplants these robust corals into degraded reefs, revitalising ecosystems at an accelerated pace. Beyond restoration, their land-based farms serve as educational centres and eco-tourism attractions, contributing to environmental awareness.
35. REEF Technology
Founder: Ari Ojalvo and Umut Tekin
Website: https://reeftechnology.com/
REEF aims to transform single-use spaces into versatile, multi-purpose places through its Proximity Network. Their portfolio spans parking real estate, logistics hubs, and multi-brand kitchens.
REEF has become a driving force with 8,000 locations and 18,000 employees across 50 cities in North America, Europe, and the Middle East. Since its inception in 2013, REEF has successfully harnessed the Power of Proximity to drive brand growth, job creation, and community efficiency.
36. Carbon Clean Solutions
Founder: Aniruddha Sharma and Prateek Bumb
Website: https://www.carbonclean.com/
Carbon Clean is a global leader in carbon capture, utilisation, and storage technologies, headquartered in London with offices in India, Spain, and the United States. With a track record of removing over 1.9 million metric tonnes of carbon from 49 facilities worldwide as of July 2023, the company focuses on providing end-to-end solutions for industries, including technology licensing, solvent supply, and full process design packages.
Specialising in sectors like cement, refineries, steel, energy from waste, and biogas, Carbon Clean’s cost-effective and scalable CCUS technologies enable industries to capture over 90% of their CO2 emissions, fostering the transition to net zero while aligning with the operational realities of existing industrial processes.
37. Worldfavor
Founder: Andreas Liljendahl, Frida Emilsson, Lars Peter Eriksson, and Pär Gustafsson;
Website: https://worldfavor.com/
Worldfavor, founded in 2016 in Stockholm, is a global sustainability platform dedicated to empowering a sustainable future. Worldfavor’s founders established the company to make sustainability information easily accessible and comparable.
Worldfavor’s technology ensures that sustainability data is not only accessible but also actively used, fostering a future where people, planet, and economy thrive together. From food to finance, Worldfavor’s impact spans diverse industries, enabling companies to reach their sustainability goals and gain traceability, ultimately transforming global value chains.
38. Windscape AI
Founder: Eric Thompson and Jason Yosinski
Website: https://windscape.ai/
Wind dominates the clean energy sector in the US, contributing over 9% of total generation and nearly half of all renewable energy. Recognising the inefficiencies in traditional wind turbines, Windscape AI employs patented methods and advanced Machine Learning. Through a network of ground-level pressure sensors, Windscape AI provides 15-60 second alerts on impending wind changes, boosting energy production, extending turbine life, and enhancing project ROI.
By seamlessly integrating AI with sensor data, Windscape AI enables wind farm controllers to implement prescient control measures, optimising energy output and mitigating damage risks from unforeseen gusts. Windscape AI pioneers the future of wind energy, where innovation meets sustainability for a more efficient and profitable renewable energy landscape.
39. Skipper
Founder: Lachlan Hill and May Bandi
Website: https://tirtyl.com.au/
Australian eco-friendly home care brand, Tirtyl, sells a range of just-add-water products, eliminating the need for bulky plastic and embracing a sustainable approach to cleanliness. From the Foaming Hand Wash to the Universal Cleaner and Biodegradable Dishwasher Tablets, Tirtyl’s cruelty-free and vegan-friendly solutions contribute to the reduction of plastic waste, with over 5,100,493 ocean-bound plastic bottles collected since 2021.
With a commitment to carbon neutrality and a 90% reduction in shipping emissions, Tirtyl offers highly effective, visually appealing, and space-saving alternatives to traditional cleaning products. Tirtyl offers competitive pricing against supermarket brands, free shipping on refills, and bulk purchase discounts, ensuring a sustainable and cost-effective choice for customers.
40. Lasso Loop
Founder: Aldous Hicks and Alison Richardson
Website: https://www.lassoloop.com/
Lasso introduces the world’s first at-home recycling solution. Redefining people’s relationship with waste, Lasso recognises the inherent value in used materials, operating as a 100% recycled and 100% carbon-negative entity.
With a sleek matte black design, the Lasso recycling appliance aims to change traditional waste management, ensuring transparency and accountability at every step. From meticulous scanning and washing in the kitchen to individual storage with similar materials, Lasso’s streamlined process guarantees that 100% of materials efficiently re-enter the production cycle.
41. Algenesis
Founder: Dr. Stephen Mayfield
Website: https://www.algenesismaterials.com/
Algenesis is a leading force in sustainable innovation. The company’s patented Soleic™ technology introduces the world’s first high-performance, renewable, and fully biodegradable plastic made from algae.
In response to the global plastic pollution crisis, Algenesis focuses on disrupting the traditional polymer market with initial product lines for footwear and surfboards. Dr. Mayfield’s expertise and commitment position Algenesis as a trailblazer, continually researching new applications for Soleic™ technology across various industries.
42. Bottle+
Founder: Linus Lingg and Christian Käser
Website: https://bottleplus.com/
Founded in 2020 by Linus and Christian, bottleplus pioneers portable sparkling water solutions with its integrated carbonizer, aiming to eliminate the use of single-use PET bottles.
Successfully launching in 2021 after a fruitful crowdfunding campaign, the company is driven by a mission to provide a sustainable alternative to traditional beverage consumption. Through modular adapters and a commitment to eco-friendly design, bottleplus envisions transforming the beverage industry by promoting resource-saving practices and reducing plastic waste.
43. Treepoints
Founder: Anthony Collias and Jacob Wedderburn-Day
Website: https://treepoints.green/
Treepoints aims to make positive climate action, making it accessible to all. Through tools that measure and mitigate carbon footprints, the company enables users to plant trees, offset carbon, and recycle, fostering a global impact.
Treepoints boasts achievements like 365,363 trees planted, 7,958,000 kg of carbon offset, and 88,971 bottles recycled. Committed to sustainability and community engagement, Treepoints stands as a beacon for businesses seeking to maximise their positive impact on the planet.
44. v2food
Founder: Nick Hazell
Website: https://v2food.com/
v2food is a pioneering Australian company committed to addressing the environmental impact of traditional meat production. Focused on creating sustainable plant-based alternatives, v2food offers a range of products, including v2mince and v2sausage, that replicate the taste and nutritional benefits of meat.
With a mission to make meat production carbon-negative, the company has expanded globally and invested in a processing facility in regional Australia. By providing delicious and nutritious alternatives, v2food is at the forefront of the movement to meet the world’s growing demand for meat while prioritising environmental sustainability.
45. EcoVadis
Founder: Pierre-François Thaler
Website: https://ecovadis.com/
EcoVadis is a global leader in sustainability ratings. Guided by the mission to lead all companies toward a sustainable world, EcoVadis engages over 1,000 requesters, rates $2.6 trillion in spend, and screens 1.3 million companies, showcasing an average improvement of +8.3 points.
Beyond its impactful business model, the company actively reduces its carbon footprint, supports global and local nonprofits, and collaborates with organisations like the United Nations Global Compact. EcoVadis stands as a beacon of sustainability leadership, embodying its commitment to a regenerative and equitable economy.
46. Skeleton
Founder: Oliver Ahlberg and Taavi Madiberk
Website: https://www.skeletontech.com/
Skeleton Energy Storage Solutions pioneers the future of energy storage with its groundbreaking Curved Graphene technology. Their supercapacitors and SuperBattery not only achieve unprecedented energy density but also overcome stability and scalability challenges in solid-state battery technologies.
Skeleton operates the largest supercapacitor factory in Europe and the upcoming Leipzig Superfactory. They are committed to accelerating electrification across various sectors, from transportation to grid and automotive.
47. Holganix
Founder: Barrett Ersek
Website: https://www.holganix.com/
Holganix focuses on soil health solutions across agriculture, landscaping, and sports fields. Their flagship product, Holganix Bio 800+, empowers farmers with increased crop yield and sustainable soil practices from reducing the need for fertilisers in landscaping to enhancing playability on golf courses.
Homeowners benefit from certified landscapers and DIY products, fostering lush landscapes with an environmental focus. Holganix is dedicated to advancing soil science, supported by third-party research trials and case studies. As part of their Greater Green Goal, they commit to eliminating millions of pounds of nitrates, phosphates, and pesticides by Earth Day 2025.
48. Bowery
Founder: Irving Fain
Website: https://bowery.co
Bowery uses BoweryOS, their proprietary operating system, to power a network of indoor vertical farms. With a commitment to growing smart produce that is both reliable and eco-friendly, Bowery’s technology ensures yields of fresher, purer food.
Bowery envisions a future where nutritious, delicious produce is accessible to all. The company’s mission is to create a world where every city has a local smart farm, reducing harm to the environment.
49. Cirrus
Founder: Pierre Regnault
Website: https://cirrus-shower.com/
Cirrus, a French company, aims to improve shower experiences through its innovative system. Combining design, technology, and nature, Cirrus offers water savings, purified water, and aromatherapy.
Launched through a successful 2017 crowdfunding campaign, Cirrus has garnered global support, raising $1.3M USD from backers in 99 countries. With a commitment to well-being, water conservation, and sustainable practices, Cirrus pioneers a unique intersection of luxury, innovation, and eco-consciousness in the realm of personal wellness.
50. Matrix Charging
Founder: Hermann Stockinger
Website: https://easelink.com/
Matrix Charging by Easelink aims to improve electric vehicle charging with its seamless, user-centric approach. Automating the charging process, Matrix Charging makes it effortless for electric vehicles to connect to the grid whenever parked, eliminating the need for plugs and cables.
Whether at private homes, work locations, or urban centres, the technology caters to diverse use cases, offering a flexible resource for the grid. This innovative solution positions Matrix Charging as the next standard in EV charging, shaping a sustainable future for e-mobility.
