Startups are created to fulfill a need they believe is in the market. The world is changing; temperatures and carbon emissions are rising; glaciers are sinking, and this has created the Sustainable startup. Dictated by several world factors like; economic; social, geographical startups follow certain trends and there is a topic that has been and will continue to be on everyone’s agenda: Sustainability.


Sustainability efforts have been made around the globe which have already brought some positive impacts. People and companies are more conscious about their waste and recycling practices. Alternative energy sources have helped reduce CO2 emission and footprint. Some brands have taken a stand on social justice and promoted respect on social causes.


Using the advancements in technology we have had so far; startups like Earthly and SkillLab are looking to build us a more sustainable future. According to Earthly website, their purpose is to help businesses apply quality solutions in reducing carbon, restoring biodiversity, and improving livelihoods. SkillLab focus on nearing the gap between skilled people available in the market and job opportunities with different requirements.


Some of the key areas of sustainability that tech companies are trying to target are across climate change, energy consumption and water consumption. Plan A, a startup based in Berlin, has been developing a platform that allows companies to measure and reduce their environmental footprint. Laska, based in Istanbul, upcycles end-of-life tires bringing them into the economy as energy and raw material. Krill Design, in Milano, transforms food waste into eco-design products. Carbominer, a Ukrainian startup, is working on a technology that is able to capture and eliminate CO2. There are many more eco-friendly startups out there such as Biome Makers, Treeapp, EcoCart, Bottle+. These are just a few examples of enterprises focused on providing sustainable products and/or services. Believe it or not, the list is quite extensive. Here is a link to several examples of startups and their great causes: https://startupsavant.com/startups-to-watch/environmental


As well as startups, large multinational corporations have made sustainability a top priority and have invested in sustainable startups at Seed stage. Google has created a program called “Startups for Sustainable Development”, which helps startups to increase their impact positively on the planet. It supports almost 400 companies in over 70 different countries. The Greentech Alliance has been founded to provide a collaboration between businesses. It has connected more than two thousand startups so far.


You don’t need to have an environmental-friendly product to be considered a sustainable startup, though. There are several ways that you can achieve that and make your company greener. You can start by evaluating your own business for areas where eco-friendly alternatives can be implemented. Startupsavant.com has created a simple but effective list of ways you can greenify your company: https://startupsavant.com/ways-to-greenify-your-startup
Small or big, recently built or not, startups play an important role in tackling environmental issues, and transforming the future of the planet.