Developing an idea into a viable business can be dauting at times. Everyone feels exhausted and overwhelmed at times, so looking on the outside for some inspiration and motivation can be a huge help and a great relief. So here are some businesses to help motivate you and to let you know: with dedication everything is possible!
AVANT2GO #
PROBLEM:
Air pollution is one of the greatest environmental health risks. Traffic and mobility is a major source of air pollution. Global transport carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in 2018 totalled 8 billion tonnes, of which 74% came from road vehicles. Given that 55% of the world’s population live in urban areas, which tend to have the most traffic, city dwellers are at highest risk with the resulting air pollution. The petrol and diesel engines of cars emit pollutants such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, sulphur dioxide, and volatile organic compounds that contribute to poor urban air quality. Even electric vehicles can contribute towards air pollution if the energy they use is generated by conventional means, such as coal power plants. Additionally, friction from tires and brake wear create primary PM emissions. The nitrogen dioxide and VOCs released by road vehicles undergo photochemical reactions to form ground-level ozone, otherwise known as photochemical smog in cities. Besides air pollution, road traffic contributes to noise pollution, traffic jams, energy resource depletion etc. On the other hand, most people own a car, even though it can get very expensive, and they don’t even use all day and/or every day.
SOLUTION:
Car sharing. Avant2GO offers a new way of mobility. It is a car sharing service, which is an effective way to cut and manage mobility expenses. This way you can pay only when you actually use the vehicle. They offer their services in bigger cities in Slovenia where traffic and parking are a bigger problem. They offer 100 % electric vehicles.
To find out more about Avant2GO and their services click here.
Moseanic and Lučkabučka #
PROBLEM:
Marine and coastal pollution is a growing problem and concern. Pollution of coastal environments can limit our ability to use beaches for economic and recreational purposes. Majority of the pollution originates from human activities along coastlines and inland. Pollution not only degrades and destroys coastal environments, but a polluted beach can also be a serious health risk and reduce local economic opportunities.
SOLUTION: Turning beach trash into a product. Moseanic is a new sustainable terrazzo material.
COMPANY DESCRIPTION:
Moseanic was a result of collaboration between a Slovenian and a Hungarian product designer. The partnership faced and tackled many challenges: developing a methodology for collecting waste, finding ways to reuse it etc. That is how they developed a material that is translucent, decorative, and environmentally friendly. Next, they decided to design an object that would show the properties of the material at its best light – a lamp, which is not only decorative and eye-catching but also provides high quality light with positive effect at people’s wellbeing and overall atmosphere in the indoors life.
To learn more about their journey, products check it out here and here.
Treecelet #
PROBLEM:
Deforestation
SOLUTION:
Business model that incorporates CO2 neutrality and sustainability and allows healthy business growth. They sell trendy bracelets and for every sold bracelet they pledge to plant trees by financing tree planting projects.
COMPANY DESCRIPTION:
Young brothers from Slovenia, Miha and Jaka love nature, forests, and trees. Their family has a special relationship with wood, as they have been running a family carpentry business for more than three generations. They have witnessed the impact of wood industry on the states of the forests, so they decided to act. Their way to sustainability has begun in 2018 and by the early 2019 they became the first CO2-neutral craftsmen in Slovenia, as they started planting trees – a lot of trees. They made their carpentry business sustainable by planting more trees than they use plus enough to compensate for electricity use and greenhouse gas emissions that they emit from their vehicles.
In the next step they decided to implement a business model that would allow them to make huge contributions to nature, and grow quickly, so that they could effectively pay workers, fund tree planting projects, and raise awareness about deforestation through social media. That is how Treecelet bracelets were born. They pledged to plant trees for every bracelet sold by financing tree planting projects with our non-profit partners and make additional donations to other forest and animal-related organisations. They also wanted to build an organisational infrastructure that would support their mission’s future growth.
They have already financed the planting of thousands of trees all over the world and they still have a lot of big plans. They are determined to take on the problem of deforestation and will not stop until all they see is green forests.
To find out more about Treecelet and their journey and work, click on this link.
AQUAFILSLO #
PROBLEM:
Lost and abandoned fishing gear, which is deadly to marine life, accounts for most of the plastic waste in the world’s oceans. According to GREENPEACE, more than 640.000 tonnes of commercial fishing nets, lines and traps are thrown away each year.
Another problem is the textile waste and resource depletion for the textile industry.
SOLUTION:
AquafilSLO recycle (process and reuse) fishing nets from all over the world. They are world leading company for the production of nylon 6 from waste raw materials, including fishing nets.
COMPANY DESCRIPTION:
AquafilSLO is the largest producer of textile fibres in Slovenia and the only one specializing in the production of nylon 6 for the clothing and flooring industry. Since 2011, it has been implementing a unique nylon 6 recycling process in the world, the ECONYL® Regeneration System, in which ECONYL® regenerated nylon is obtained from end-of-life products such as fishing nets and textile floor coverings, as well as industrial residues containing nylon.
AquafilSLO is part of the international Aquafil group, which has 18 factories in seven countries on three continents and is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of polyamide 6 and a reference for product quality and innovation. Conserving resources, giving new life to materials, increasing operational efficiency to create value: these are the ambitious goals with which the Aquafil Group has gradually become an international reference for sustainable development. AquafilSLO in the Group represents the center of innovative technologies for obtaining materials from end-of-life products and depolymerization.
Regenerated nylon 6 ECONYL® has the same properties as nylon from fossil sources but has a significantly smaller environmental footprint. Greenhouse gas emissions in the ECONYL® process are up to 90 % lower compared to the classic petrochemical process. ECONYL® is obtained exclusively from waste materials (end-of-life products and industrial residues) in which the percentage of post-consumer waste (i.e., end-of-life products) is certified to be at least 50%.
At Aquafil they produce fibers for clothing and textile floor coverings from ECONYL®, and many well-known brands of clothing and textile floor coverings, which follow the principles of sustainability and circular economy, use these for their products. Among them are, for example, Adidas, Stella McCartney, Gucci, Prada, as well as Slovenian brands Swimsor and Alpine Princess. ECONYL® nylon is also used as a granulate for the production of eyeglass frames and designer chairs.
To find out more, about the company and their work, click on this link and this link.
BOKRI/EVEGREEN #
PROBLEM:
Increasing amounts of microplastic particles in soil, water, food etc.
SOLUTION:
Biodegradable pots for seedlings that are planted directly in the ground.
COMPANY DESCRIPTION:
Bokri/Evegreen started as a startup idea. In 2015 that was the winning startup idea on a Startup competition and from middle of December 2015 to the beginning of February company Bokri had sell more than 500 packages of their pots.
The team had work hard to continue developing their company and product. On the way they had developed even more complementary products and made their original product even better.
The company is now called EVEGREEN and their pots are 100 % made of waste grains (which solves another problem: waste food and is in line with principles of circular economy.
They also developed sustainable grave candles made from natural recycled materials.
To find out more about Evegreen and their amazing products click on this link.
SENSIO AIR #
PROBLEM:
Our environment is full of harmful pollutants, particles, allergens, moulds etc. These are in our homes and workplaces, and they impact our health. Air pollutants and pathogens also impact crop growth and yield. More than 28% of yearly crop loss is due to mould contamination.
SOLUTION:
Application and/or device for detecting, identifying, and characterizing airborne pathogens in real-life. With it we can prevent harmful biological particles, track mould, dander, and pollen. With identifying the condition of our surroundings and quality of our air we can prevent many problems and reduce the use of harmful chemicals in our homes, offices, and bodies. Plus, most importantly we can reduce health related issues that poor air quality causes.
Sensio air also offers applications and technologies for protecting crops from mould and cross pollination. It allows the user to:
- detect mould, fungi, and spores before the destruction of crops,
- detect, monitor, and identify pollen to avoid cross pollination
- understand air to improve business
COMPANY DESCRIPTION:
Sensio Air is a healthcare analytics company using patented technologies to identify real-time pathogens in the air. Sensio Air is used by some of the world’s largest companies to detect and identify particles like mould, pollen, dander, dust-mites but also inorganic particles. Paired with a dashboard or mobile application, Sensio allows people with allergies and asthma or individuals at risk to understand the air they breathe and to predict prevent and manage their symptoms. Sensio Air has recently received investment from HVAC giant Daikin to help consumers better manage their indoor air. Daikin Industries, Ltd. has been working to create air conditioning solution businesses that realize safety and reliability in indoor air qualities and spaces.
To find out more about this impressive invention, click this link. Also check out this article to find out more about the journey of the innovators.
Lyfa – zero waste e-grocery store #
PROBLEM:
The ever-growing environmental problem – waste. Waste is not only an environmental problem, but also an economic loss. Europe generates large amounts of waste: food and garden waste, construction and demolition waste, mining waste, industrial waste, sludge, old televisions, old cars, batteries, plastic bags, paper, sanitary waste, old clothes, and old furniture etc. And even scarier fact is that the list goes on. The amount of waste we generate is closely linked to our consumption and production patterns. The sheer number of products entering the market poses yet another challenge. Demographic changes, like an increase in the number of one-person households, also affect the amount of waste we generate (example: packaging goods in smaller units). A big problem is single use packaging that is intended to be used only once before discarded or (in best case) recycled. These include most every day, every household items like food packaging, laundry detergent etc. So it is a source of large amount of waste.
SOLUTION:
Online store and delivery service for plastic free groceries.
COMPANY DESCRIPTION:
Lyfa is a Switzerland startup that developed a business idea for a zero-waste grocery store. Their goal was to make it easier and more accessible for people to shop waste-free, by creating a waste-free shopping experience with real mainstream appeal. They offer a wide range of products (more than 250). All their products are delivered waste-free in reusable packaging instead of single-use packaging. During delivery they simply collect all the empty packaging from customers at the same time, creating a circular loop for the packaging and net reduction in CO2 with every order.
To find out more click here.
BEERWAY #
DESCRIPTION:
Ksenija Mravlja, along with her partner Bogdan Resnik, conceptualized and implemented a unique experience in Kamnik called “Beer Way.” Their innovative tourism offering blends sports activities, culinary exploration, and local history, providing visitors with an immersive experience of Kamnik’s thriving microbrewery scene, now recognized as the capital of microbreweries. Awarded the Slovenia Unique Experiences five-star recognition, Beer Way to Freedom stands out as one of the premier boutique experiences in Slovenia.
IDEA AND DEVELOPMENT:
The idea for Beer Way to Freedom originated after participating in the All-Slovenian Tourist Start-Up Weekend in Termah Snovik wich was orginazed by KIKstarer incubator center, where innovative concepts for the development of Kamnik tourism were sought. Ksenija and Bogdan aimed to combine Ksenija’s passion for culinary arts with Bogdan’s enthusiasm for sports, capitalizing on Kamnik’s rich brewing tradition and contemporary microbrewery culture.
OFFERING:
Beer Way to Freedom is a sports-culinary adventure encompassing a hike through Kamnik, a brewery tour, and beer tastings from four local breweries.
SUSTAINABILITY COMPONENTS:
Beer Way to Freedom prioritizes sustainability through several components:
- Engagement with Local Stakeholders: The experience involves collaboration with local pubs and microbreweries, supporting and promoting local businesses.
- Exploration of Non-Touristic Places: The itinerary includes visits to less touristy locations like Menina Planina, contributing to a more diverse and authentic experience.
- Reduced Single-Use Plastics: The tastings utilize glassware instead of disposable containers, promoting eco-friendly practices.
- Utilization of Public Transport and Bicycles: The experience encourages the use of public transportation and bicycles, minimizing the environmental impact of travel.
Find out more: https://beerway.si/
MIMY #
DESCRIPTION:
Manca Avsec Arnuš is the visionary behind MIMY, a family-owned business focused on providing plant-based milk alternatives. MIMY specializes in creating bases for plant-based milk, particularly almond, empowering consumers to craft their own beverages. The company is deeply committed to sustainability, innovation, and infusing a Slovenian touch into their offerings.
MIMY, Future of Plant-Based Milk:
MIMY’s mission is to redefine the plant-based milk experience by offering bases that allow users to create their own customized beverages. Here are key aspects of MIMY:
- 100% Natural Ingredients: MIMY products are crafted from purely natural ingredients, ensuring a wholesome and healthy choice for consumers.
- Pure and Divine Flavors: MIMY promises an indulgent experience with clean and divine flavors, redefining the perception of plant-based milk alternatives.
- Significantly Less Waste: MIMY is dedicated to reducing environmental impact, leading to substantially less waste in comparison to traditional milk alternatives.
- Sustainability, Innovation, & Slovenian: MIMY is positioned as a brand that embodies sustainability, innovation, and the essence of Slovenia in its products.
- No More Tetra Paks: MIMY advocates for a shift away from water and additive-filled tetra packs, offering a more sustainable and flavorful alternative.
MIMY Sustainability Initiatives: MIMY actively contributes to sustainability through the use of glassware and paper packaging. This eco-friendly approach aligns with their commitment to reducing waste and embracing innovative, Slovenian-inspired practices.
MIMY, Crafting the Foundation for Plant-Based Milk: MIMY is not just a product; it’s a commitment to providing a sustainable foundation for plant-based milk alternatives. With their dedication to natural ingredients, MIMY is revolutionizing the way we perceive and consume plant-based beverages.
Find out more: https://mimy.si/
LA HUERTA DIGITAL #
PROBLEM:
Sustainable farming is a challenge across Europe. Not only are resource scarcity and climate change a problem in most areas, but farmers also need to improve technologically, not only in production but also in marketing and sales. Generational change will also soon be an issue, as the average age of farmers in most European countries is over 55.
SOLUTION:
Huerta Digital will be an online platform for farmers to showcase, sell their products and collaborate with each other. Huerta Digital will also help farmers design the visibility elements they need to be visible. A website and phone app, currently under development, will support both the producer and the buyer side. Farmers will be able to update their products that are still for sale and buyers will be able to purchase them online. Currently 25 farmers have joined the initiative, but the aim is to include all farmers in Castilla y la Mancha, which is around 200.
DESCRIPTION:
The business idea is currently being implemented. The last year has been spent on needs assessment and business planning. What is certain is that a digital platform will be created based on the needs of farmers and customers. Apart from sales, what they will help the farmers with: brand development, introducing innovative ways of selling, community building, networking and business consulting (business planning, financial planning, sales strategies).
An innovative way of selling is, for example, the adoption of a pistachio tree, which can even be named. There will be an annual fee, but the entire fruit of the adopted tree will be mailed to the adopter. The core values of the business idea are sustainability, innovation, community and experience.
Find out more: https://lahuertadigital.es/
BEECO #
PROBLEM:
Today, we cannot ignore the situation of our planet and our environment. The signs of climate change are alarming worldwide. We only have to think of the following: declining biodiversity, extreme weather, devastating storms. BEECO aims to respond to these challenges through community building, awareness raising and green business initiatives.
DESCRIPTION:
Beeco, or be eco, is an app that provides playful challenges to help all people who care about a sustainable and green future to make their everyday activities more planet-friendly. The soon-to-be-launched app is not only a phone app, but also a community.
Developers and testers are working day in, day out on beeco’s character avatars, green challenges, leaderboards and reward system. Not only in sustainability, but also in the beeco hive, we can rely on a true team spirit. The local environmental community has seen the imagination in busy bees from the very beginning. Beeco has partnered with recycling, public transport, packaging-free living and many more environmentally focused SMEs. On the beeco website you can find lots more tips, news and news about the app. Let’s be busy bees and do more for a more liveable planet with beco!
Find out more: https://www.beeco.hu/
Farma Organica Agricultural Cooperative Prilep #
The Agricultural Cooperative was launched in 2020 in Prilep. The farm uses natural methods of crop production, including chemical-free cultivation, manure recycling, soil conservation, and promotion of ecological diversity through the creation of green houses for soil-free production. The advantage of soil-less production is that there are no soil-borne pests, and the quasi-artificial environment allows for year-round production.
The cooperative is engaged in the cultivation and marketing of tree seedlings, as well as fruits and vegetables. The transition to organic farming is a major contribution to environmental protection and the production of healthy food.
BALEVSKI & KIROV #
The production of Essential products, which are rich in authentic natural substances, useful for the human body and provide healthy nutrition to consumers, with guaranteed purity in terms of herbicides, pesticides, GMOs, preservatives and additives, is the basis of the concept, philosophy and strategy of the company “Balevski and Kirov” Ltd.
A small boutique company specialising in the processing of briar was established in the town of Tryavna. All technological processes are designed to optimise the preservation of the useful substances in the fruit.
“Green technologies and solutions” are embedded in the genesis of this family business. This means being aware of the need to use the latest technologies, the most modern machinery and equipment that protect the environment and do not cause destructive consequences on the one hand, and on the other hand, creating Essential products while preserving in the raw materials the useful substances nature has given them.
The raw material they use in their production is 100% organic. The company is bio certified. Although Chile and China are the biggest producers of rose hips in the world are Chile and China, but they trust the Bulgarian producers of cultivated rose hips, because they are convinced that the richest in vitamins rosehip in the world grows in their latitudes.
ABOUT THE TECHNOLOGY:
In order to maintain the high content of vitamins C, E, B1, B2, K, D, A (carotene), PP, P and Omega 3, Omega 6 and Omega 9 fatty acids in our Essential foods and food supplements, the drying process takes place initially in a natural environment and then at a temperature of 40 to 50 degrees C in a specially designed automated single-belt dryer.
Concerned for the protection of the environment, we have created a combustion plant with rosehip moss as its main energy source, which we obtain when separating the husk from the seeds. The heat energy we use in the drying process is 100% environmentally friendly. For the grinding process we use stone mills, which is the oldest and best method for converting dried rose hips into flour. The stone mill grinds the dried rose hips slowly, without heating them, preserving to a maximum extent all the Essential nutrients collected in the fruits of nature.
Presses for cold pressing of oil are a patent development of the latest generation, with which the pressing process takes place at a significantly lower temperature, in the absence of oxygen, in a nitrogen environment and the pressed oil flows at a temperature of 26-28 degrees C, which ensures the preservation of the useful substances contained in the primary raw material. This oil meets, and even in certain respects exceeds the performance of refined oils and at the same time surpasses them with the fully preserved high content of vitamins and antioxidants.
The filtration process is carried out in nitrogen conditions with a modern Italian filter system after pre-cooled and crystallized oil to 5 degrees C by winterization. By crystallizing the oil, we aim for a more efficient filtration process.
The oil is stored in specially designed containers in which we create a nitrogen environment with an overpressure of 0.5 Bar. The storage temperature is from 5 to 13 degrees, which we achieve through automated periodic winterization. Oils are bottled in a specialized sterile room. We use a dosing machine that pre-creates a nitrogen environment in the jars. By sealing the oil in a nitrogen environment, we guarantee the preservation of its active ingredients for 18 months after the package is opened.
Find out more: https://balevski.bg/en/
MUNCH #
Food waste is on a gigantic scale around the world. We overconsume, buy much more than we need and eventually the food we don’t eat becomes waste. In Hungary, we throw 65kg of food per person into the garbage every year, generating 635 000 tonnes of yearly food waste.
What can we do about it? We can prevent it. By smart shopping, conscious menu planning and responsible consumption. The Munch App., a Hungarian start-up idea, also contributes to prevention.MUNCH is a platform through which restaurants and shops sell unsold, but good quality food at a discount (40-60%).
The primary aim of the MUNCH App is to reduce the amount of food waste generated and to prevent the Organic Waste. The App offers a simple solution to make food management more sustainable from an environmental, social and economic point of view! You can register on the App as a seller (e.g. restaurants, bakeries and pastry shops) and register as a buyer.
Results achieved:
- 700 000+ portion of saved food;
- This prevented the emission of approximately 1600+ tons of greenhouse gases;
- 11 500+ food delivered to people in need;
- 580 000 EUR+ saved with munching;
- Thousands of registered member;
If you are interested in this App. check the details here: https://munch.hu/?lang=en_US
BODY SHOP – Not Your Average Cosmetics Company #
When The Body Shop first opened its doors in 1976, it was just a tiny, green-painted store wafting scents down one of Brighton’s streets. It stood completely apart from the rest of the cosmetic industry, both outwardly and inwardly. Yet, it was utterly simple – ethically sourced, natural-based ingredients from all corners of the globe, packaged in containers that were recyclable and refillable. The products and beauty rituals were crafted for everyone, regardless of age, gender, or affiliation, so that every customer could feel comfortable in their own skin. And never promising that others could be through them.
The Body Shop is a venture founded by Anita Roddick. She created the business because she needed products that were natural, effective, and did not harm the environment. The goal of the enterprise was not just to make money, but to bring about positive change in the world by supporting sustainability and ethical business practices.
The Body Shop offers products that blend naturality and efficacy. The enterprise is committed to supporting human rights and animal welfare. It has gained reputation by paying attention to social responsibility and ethical manufacturing practices.
In terms of green objectives, The Body Shop follows numerous initiatives and guidelines. One of the most important is placing great emphasis on natural ingredients in their products, minimizing the use of chemicals and artificial materials. Additionally, the company actively participates in fair trade programs, supporting communities from which they source ingredients.
The Body Shop campaigns against animal testing and does not test its products on animals. Their aim is also to minimize packaging and encourage recycling and reusing. Moreover, they support environmental initiatives and the preservation of forests.
In conclusion, The Body Shop is a business that aims to operate sustainably and achieve positive societal and environmental impacts through its activities.
Read more: https://www.thebodyshop.com/
