Every third start-up launched today has a sustainability-focused purpose. The ideas that have come about in the areas of logistics and sourcing, as well as some interesting facts on green start-ups, are showcased here.
Green start-ups: facts and figures
Nearly every third start-up that was established in 2021 makes a contribution to ecological or social sustainability. This is a finding from Green Startup Monitor 2021 (partly in German), which also gives additional interesting information:
- For more than three-fourths of all start-ups, the ecological and societal impact of their actions plays a significant role in their company strategy.
- Only 16 per cent of sustainable start-ups can rely on venture capital, while 42 per cent would like this kind of finance support.
- In addition to funding, which is a challenge for nearly half of entrepreneurs, the greatest challenges are for sales (63 per cent) and product development (46 per cent).
Green start-ups have been established in various branches. Among the 509 participants of the survey, 22 per cent are players in information and communication technology, 11 per cent in food and nutrition, and 10 per cent in consumer goods. Around 2 per cent have developed innovative, green ideas in logistics.
Five examples of sustainable start-ups for logistics and sourcing
In the areas of logistics and sourcing, numerous start-ups have launched various exciting ideas in recent years. These ideas focus on at least one of the 17 goals which serve to achieve global sustainable development on economic, social and ecological levels. Here are 5 examples:
1. cirplus: marketplace for recyclate and plastic waste
cirplus GmbH has developed an online platform where recyclate and plastic waste can be traded globally. It aims to provide sellers and buyers from the waste, recycling and plastic industries a central marketplace – offering financial advantages and simplification of the at times elaborate and overwhelming trade process. cirplus won in the category Startup at the 15th Greentech Awards.
2. Citkar: electric bike as utility vehicle
The start-up Citkar develops efficient and, above all, sustainable mobility concepts. The first vehicle, the Loadster, is a fusion of electric bike and utility vehicle – made for last-mile transport. An eco-friendly mobility solution which is superior in sustainability terms to other electric vehicles thanks to their smaller batteries and lower weight. Delivery persons also save time, as the bike lanes can be used and the bikes can be parked on the pavement.
3. CO2OPT: tyre management for fleets
Transport companies can rely on the AI-based platform CO2OPT for saving up to 10 per cent in fuel cost and carbon emissions thanks to optimised tyre management contracts. Based on telematic data, the start-up generates usage scenarios for vehicles and compares these with the profiles of 11,000 tyres stored in a comprehensive, manufacturer-based database. This means tyres can be chosen by a transport company which optimally match its vehicles’ daily operations.
4. AFTS: examination of sustainable supply chains
The start-up AFTS helps companies with its blockchain-based, Software-as-a-Service solution to make their supply chains transparent, to analyse compliance risks and to track products back to their origin – with the aim to meet the requirements of the German Act on Corporate Due Diligence Obligations in Supply Chains (Lieferkettensorgfaltspflichtengesetz). With this solution, companies can document and guarantee the ecological and ethical sustainability of their production and trade routes towards consumers, the public and partners.
5. sustainabill: cloud platform for Procurement departments
The cloud platform from sustainabill helps the Procurement department to ensure compliance with the German Act on Corporate Due Diligence Obligations in Supply Chains and the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), as well as ensure sustainability within the supply chain. To achieve this, the start-up has developed a cloud platform for automated end-to-end processes. The platform supports risk analysis and the prioritisation of risks, and then recommends preventive and corrective measures.
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Five examples of sustainable start-ups for logistics and sourcing
In the areas of logistics and sourcing, numerous start-ups have launched various exciting ideas in recent years. These ideas focus on at least one of the 17 goals which serve to achieve global sustainable development on economic, social and ecological levels. Here are 5 examples:
1. cirplus: marketplace for recyclate and plastic waste
cirplus GmbH has developed an online platform where recyclate and plastic waste can be traded globally. It aims to provide sellers and buyers from the waste, recycling and plastic industries a central marketplace – offering financial advantages and simplification of the at times elaborate and overwhelming trade process. cirplus won in the category Startup at the 15th Greentech Awards.
2. Citkar: electric bike as utility vehicle
The start-up Citkar develops efficient and, above all, sustainable mobility concepts. The first vehicle, the Loadster, is a fusion of electric bike and utility vehicle – made for last-mile transport. An eco-friendly mobility solution which is superior in sustainability terms to other electric vehicles thanks to their smaller batteries and lower weight. Delivery persons also save time, as the bike lanes can be used and the bikes can be parked on the pavement.
3. CO2OPT: tyre management for fleets
Transport companies can rely on the AI-based platform CO2OPT for saving up to 10 per cent in fuel cost and carbon emissions thanks to optimised tyre management contracts. Based on telematic data, the start-up generates usage scenarios for vehicles and compares these with the profiles of 11,000 tyres stored in a comprehensive, manufacturer-based database. This means tyres can be chosen by a transport company which optimally match its vehicles’ daily operations.
4. AFTS: examination of sustainable supply chains
The start-up AFTS helps companies with its blockchain-based, Software-as-a-Service solution to make their supply chains transparent, to analyse compliance risks and to track products back to their origin – with the aim to meet the requirements of the German Act on Corporate Due Diligence Obligations in Supply Chains (Lieferkettensorgfaltspflichtengesetz). With this solution, companies can document and guarantee the ecological and ethical sustainability of their production and trade routes towards consumers, the public and partners.
5. sustainabill: cloud platform for Procurement departments
The cloud platform from sustainabill helps the Procurement department to ensure compliance with the German Act on Corporate Due Diligence Obligations in Supply Chains and the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), as well as ensure sustainability within the supply chain. To achieve this, the start-up has developed a cloud platform for automated end-to-end processes. The platform supports risk analysis and the prioritisation of risks, and then recommends preventive and corrective measures.
