From our friends at Green Alley Awards
Is turning waste into a resource at the centre of your business model? Great! Here comes your chance to take your sustainable business idea to the next level. The Green Alley Award invites young companies to showcase their technology, service or product for the circular economy. Apply before 25 June 2019 for the chance to win €25,000, plus a crowdfunding opportunity and valuable business contacts.
Mainz, 26 March 2019 – With the Green Alley Award, Landbell Group established the first European startup prize for the circular economy. As of today, founders and startups can submit their application for the Green Alley Award 2019 online via www.green-alley-award.com. Following a live pitch, the jury will choose the winner at an all-day event in October. Finalists will also have the chance to win the Seedmatch Crowd Award, including a one-day workshop on raising money via online platforms, and the option to create an individual crowdfunding campaign.
‘We want to encourage new ideas and approaches to saving resources and reducing waste,’ says Jan Patrick Schulz, CEO of Landbell Group. ‘There are so many good ideas around. Our aim is to foster and promote young businesses and connect them to a network of circular economy experts across Europe.’
The Green Alley Award 2019 targets startups and young entrepreneurs who have developed a business model in the areas of digital circular economy, recycling and waste prevention. The award sponsors are looking for companies that are about to launch their products or services or are already in the growth phase. They also welcome startups who want to expand into other European markets. The sole condition is that the business idea must help reduce waste or turn waste into resources.
The Winners – a wide range of concepts
Whether it is the development of sustainable materials, ideas for waste reduction or helpful digital tools, the circular economy holds enormous business potential for startups. The diversity of concepts from Green Alley Award winners over the past five years clearly shows this. Last year, UK startup Aeropowder won the award with their unique idea for insulating material for packaging made from waste feathers. In 2017, the Finnish startup Sulapac presented a wooden, biodegradable alternative to plastic packaging. And the first winner of the Green Alley Award in 2014, Finnish startup Repack, provides a reusable packaging service for online retailers to reduce packaging waste.
The Process – from application to the finals
- Startups are invited to submit their application by 25 June 2019.
- In early September, six finalists will be selected to take part in the Green Alley Award finals.
- The finalists are invited to Berlin on 17 October 2019, where they will work on their business models with circular economy practitioners and startup experts during individual mentoring talks.
- The finalists have a five minute pitch on stage to present their business ideas to an expert jury and international audience. The jury is made up of experienced leaders from Landbell Group as well as external experts including Alexis Figeac, originator of the EU project R2Pi on circular economy business models, and Elena Dieckmann, co-founder and director of the startup Aeropowder which won the 2018 Green Alley Award.
The Supporters – turning the linear into a circular economy
The annual Green Alley Award was created in 2014 by Landbell Group, the leading supplier of global environmental services, along with Germany’s crowdfunding pioneer, Seedmatch. Over time, more partners have joined: Bethnal Green Ventures, a UK accelerator programme for startups using tech for good, and R2Pi, an EU Horizon 2020 project on circular economy business models.
| Benefits at a glance €25,000 prize to take your business to the next levelFeedback from high-ranking circular economy experts and start-up mentorsNetworking opportunities and new business contactsOption for a crowdfunding campaign with Seedmatch or partner platformsPitch to potential investors and media at the Green Alley Award finals |
For more information please visit our newsroom on https://green-alley-award.com/newsroom/
About the Green Alley Award
The Green Alley Award is Europe’s only startup prize specifically for the circular economy. The mission is to turn the linear into a circular economy and transform the waste and recycling industry as we know it today. The annual European prize was created in 2014 by Landbell Group, the leading supplier of global environmental services, along with Germany’s crowdfunding pioneer, Seedmatch. Over time, more partners have joined – Bethnal Green Ventures, a UK accelerator programme for start-ups using tech for good, and R2Pi, an EU Horizon 2020 project on circular economy business models. For more information: green-alley-award.com
About Landbell Group
Landbell Group is a leading provider of international environmental and chemical compliance services and consulting. Since 1995, the company has been helping 25,000 customers in more than 40 countries implement their Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and other product and packaging requirements. In addition, Landbell Group supports manufacturers and dealers as a competent partner on the way to a circular economy. In addition to 35 take-back systems for various waste streams throughout Europe, consulting and software are also part of Landbell Group’s portfolio. In 2017, Landbell Group achieved sales of more than 160 million euros. For more information: www.landbell-group.com
