Upcycling is one of the green innovation trends of 2022

This year ClimateLaunchpad, the global green business competition, sees a remarkable number of start-ups looking for 'system solutions', ways to reuse resources. The competition has seen a striking number of entries with innovations related to circular economies, recycling, and upcycling. And these include very inventive ideas. It is clear that circular economy – breaking the “take-make-dispose” cycle is one of the topics that entrepreneurs are determined to tackle.

Within the competition, all kinds of ideas come forward, such as extracting energy from the sea, using deep tech to monitor agricultural factors, or producing environmentally friendly batteries. 

Building with waste

When you look at the ideas that the Global Finalists will be pitching, you could ask yourself why buildings are still being built with bricks, concrete, or steel made from virgin resources. For example, amongst the cohort there are innovations that make concrete from waste from coal-fired power stations and blast furnaces; or ones that turn textiles into bricks, or create building materials from Styrofoam. In this way they not only recycle residual products, they also prevent a lot of air and land pollution.

Clothing, children’s rooms, and coffee oil. All from our organic waste

We know that we can compost our organic waste. But did you know that you could also use it to make new products? This year we see, among other things, that clothing is made from potato scraps and children’s furniture from food waste from catering businesses. 

Who will win?

The Top 80 teams from around the world will pitch their ideas to an international jury for cash prizes and one of the 16 spots in a dedicated accelerator programme. The ClimateLaunchpad ClimAccelerator provides tailored follow-on support to these winning teams to help them turn their idea into a successful business and continue to create positive climate impact.

Climatelaunchpad.org