Start-ups in Sustainability

Who are the pioneering start-ups and scale-ups in the sustainability space? In this podcast series, we will introduce you to the founders and companies who are working to create a more sustainable world. Find out about these start-ups and scale-ups, discover their vision, and learn more about how they are aiming to shape the future of our economy, society and planet.

#13 - Sustainable transportation at breakneck speed 04/02/2025

#13 - Sustainable transportation at breakneck speed Is it possible to travel at the speed of an airplane while having the same convenience and ecological footprint as going by train? A technology that might make this idea become reality is the hyperloop, a transportation system in which levitating pods are propelled in tubes to reach a speed of more than 1’000 kilometres an hour. The EPFL-spinoff focuses on such systems and has developed a hyperloop vehicle. CEO and co-founder and his team won several awards in the hyperloop competitions hosted by SpaceX and are building a 1.6-kilometre track in Colorado to test their product in full scale. In this episode, Denis explains why the hyperloop technology is more sustainable than comparable modes of transportation and when it will be possible to travel with hyperloop vehicles. /episode/index/show/8e96ca90-2a93-4e1a-b6a5-a880598c3915/id/35956360

#12 - Supporting small companies with sustainability reporting 10/30/2024

#12 - Supporting small companies with sustainability reporting In 2022, the European Union changed the legislation on the sustainability reporting of companies. The new requirements expand the scope of businesses that are obliged to report on their environmental, social, and economic impact. Although this legislation has been in effect since early 2024, many small companies still face challenges in understanding and meeting the reporting standards. To assist these businesses, the start-up offers solutions that help them get started on sustainability reporting. In this episode, founder and serial entrepreneur shares the story of CSR Tools and his previous ventures. He also discusses the critical success factors of start-ups. /episode/index/show/8e96ca90-2a93-4e1a-b6a5-a880598c3915/id/33639367

#11 - A circular world of children’s toys 07/30/2024

#11 - A circular world of children’s toys The children’s toy market in Switzerland is quite sizable with parents spending approximately 800 million Swiss Francs each year. Most of these toys are made of plastic leading to significant emissions during production and posing challenges for recycling. and her team at the start-up are addressing this issue by establishing a circular platform for children’s toys. The company collects toys from families, then sorts, cleans, and eventually offers them a new lease on life through its online store. This approeach results in a triple win: donating families declutter while earning store credit, new buyers save up to 70 per cent compared to the original toy price, and the planet benefits from reduced emissions and waste. Fatma discusses the founding story of her company, the role that start-up competitions played in testing her business idea, and her plans to scale Circle Toys nationwide. /episode/index/show/8e96ca90-2a93-4e1a-b6a5-a880598c3915/id/32288677

#10 - Upcycling and circularity in acoustic products 04/23/2024

#10 - Upcycling and circularity in acoustic products Acoustic panels and dividers help improve the atmosphere in rooms by absorbing sound and reducing noise. Normally these products are made of virgin materials and can be difficult to recycle at the end of their lifecycle. wanted to solve this problem and therefore co-founded Impact Acoustic . This start-up uses waste as a resource and designs circular acoustic products. Impact Acoustic’s latest product is entirely made of cotton fibres deemed too short to make yarn and thus were disposed of in the past. In this episode, Sven talks about why was founded, how they use recycled PET bottles as a raw material, and what the impact would be on the company if the world stopped using plastic. /episode/index/show/8e96ca90-2a93-4e1a-b6a5-a880598c3915/id/30947883

#9 - Sustainable sips – redefining outdoor coffee 03/25/2024

#9 - Sustainable sips – redefining outdoor coffee How can you prepare a good cup of coffee when you are outdoors – say on a mountain hike or ski tour – without bringing much equipment or creating lots of waste? /episode/index/show/8e96ca90-2a93-4e1a-b6a5-a880598c3915/id/30704668

#8 - Using the potential of seaweed to revolutionise packaging 02/21/2024

#8 - Using the potential of seaweed to revolutionise packaging Seaweed represents one of the most abundant biomass resources on earth. It also grows ten times faster than land plants, captures CO2, and produces oxygen for humans and other species. Despite being a renewable resource, the potential of seaweed is not used often in the production of goods. /episode/index/show/8e96ca90-2a93-4e1a-b6a5-a880598c3915/id/30704678

#7 - Tackling the taboo topic (in German) 12/19/2023

#7 - Tackling the taboo topic (in German) Products for sexual health are not necessarily the first category that we think about when it comes to making the world more sustainable. For example, condoms were a taboo topic for a long time: many people bought them secretly and avoided talking about them. /episode/index/show/8e96ca90-2a93-4e1a-b6a5-a880598c3915/id/30704688

#6 - Circularity and responsible sourcing in watchmaking (rerun) 08/25/2023

#6 - Circularity and responsible sourcing in watchmaking (rerun) Many companies try to make their existing product offerings more sustainable and ecologically compatible. But only a few firms subject their product development fully and from the very beginning to the principles of complete circularity and responsible sourcing. /episode/index/show/8e96ca90-2a93-4e1a-b6a5-a880598c3915/id/30704698

#5 - Travelling as a mindful optimist 07/17/2023

#5 - Travelling as a mindful optimist Today many travellers ask themselves which mode of transport they should use for their next trip. Airplanes are fast but have a large carbon footprint. Trains are more sustainable but feature only few overnight connections with which people can bridge the longer travel time by sleeping. And buses also do well in eco-friendliness but are less comfortable for overnight travel because passengers cannot lie down. /episode/index/show/8e96ca90-2a93-4e1a-b6a5-a880598c3915/id/30704708

#4 - The scent of sustainability 06/12/2023

#4 - The scent of sustainability How can scents enhance our well-being and mental health in the workplace? And what role does 'ma' – the Japanese concept of negative space – play in this context? /episode/index/show/8e96ca90-2a93-4e1a-b6a5-a880598c3915/id/30704758

#3 - The trade-off between sustainable fashion and affordability 05/04/2023

#3 - The trade-off between sustainable fashion and affordability What happens when two former scouts and childhood friends from Lenzburg meet for a beer and get the idea to start a business? They build one of the trendiest and well-known sustainable fashion labels in Switzerland. /episode/index/show/8e96ca90-2a93-4e1a-b6a5-a880598c3915/id/30704763

#2 - Improving impact measurement with collective intelligence 04/06/2023

#2 - Improving impact measurement with collective intelligence Sustainability performance and a company’s impact are often measured using ESG standards (environmental, social, governance). However, some experts criticise ESG frameworks for their focus on financial measures, risk assessment and the impact of ESG on a company rather than a company’s impact on the environment and society. /episode/index/show/8e96ca90-2a93-4e1a-b6a5-a880598c3915/id/30704768

#1 - Impact investing – balancing sustainability and financial return 03/06/2023

#1 - Impact investing – balancing sustainability and financial return Can you build wealth with a clear conscience? Are healthy financial returns compatible with a positive social and environmental impact? /episode/index/show/8e96ca90-2a93-4e1a-b6a5-a880598c3915/id/30704773

Start-ups in Sustainability

TOPICS