Sustainable ventures: great ideas that are a success

There are more and more people who, instead of entering the labor market in a dependency relationship, choose to start a entrepreneurship on your own. And, among them, more and more opt for a sustainable project.

Also called eco-ventures, these work models comply with the premise of a strong commitment to the environmental careWhether it’s using recyclable materials in the production process, using energy efficiently, or helping customers reduce pollution, without having to give up the benefits of the product.

These are some of the most used practices, although the list of possibilities is endless, especially in entrepreneurship, where creativity plays a fundamental role. Below is a list with sustainable business ideas that not only managed to sustain themselves financially and continue over time, but also made a contribution to the environment.

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against plastic

The World Bank estimates that by 2025, plastic waste will reach 3.4 billion tons worldwide. To combat the increase in that figure, many startups are focused on replacing the use of plastic.

A great example is Meraki, a brand founded in 2016 in Buenos Aires that sells toothbrushes with the handle of bamboo, a 97 percent biodegradable material. In addition, it combines it with small capsules called Bits that replace toothpaste, thus eliminating plastic containers. These Bits, made with natural ingredients and free of preservatives, are bitten into and then brushed until they fall apart.

On the other hand, a supermarket in the Buenos Aires neighborhood of Belgrano decided to completely eliminate plastic containers. Is about Zero Market, which sells loose products, so customers take care to bring their own reusable containers.

There is also the case of Bakeys, an Indian startup that was created with the aim of replacing disposable cutlery. For that, he designed a kind of edible spoon so that, after being used, it can be eaten. Made from sorghum flour mixed with rice and wheat, Bakey’s cutlery is free of chemicals, preservatives, fats, emulsifiers, artificial colors and dairy products and is 100 percent vegan.

Instead of throwing them away after a single use, people can choose to consume them or they biodegrade in less than three days. Bakey’s spoons even come in sweet and savory varieties.

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How to make use of wasted food

According to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 30 percent of all food produced is wasted each year, which is equivalent to 1.3 billion tons of food.

It was to take advantage of these remains that arose Snact, a British company that uses as raw material the discarded fruits (for example, those with blemishes or brown spots) to produce nutritional bars and fruits dry. In addition, it manufactures the wrappers with biodegradable materials.

On the other hand, the american WISErg is a venture that, through biological technology, converts food waste into plant fertilizers. The main product of the brand is called the Harvester, a shredder that is placed in restaurants and cafes. The remains of food are deposited there, so that they are crushed and expel their main nutrients, which are then transferred to the company’s production plant.

The use of recyclable materials

To avoid pollution caused by plastic, replacing its use is not the only way. The same waste can also be used to make new products that are returned to the market.

During the quarantine, a textile designer, Jimena Martínez, devised linen covers to preserve food without using plastic wrap, one of the many plastics used in everyday life. thus was born Holy Mother, a venture based on this ecological fabric.

Take advantage of all the benefits of the flax plant, which can grow with minimal irrigation and is fully used. Nothing is wasted: the seed, the flower and the stem serve to produce the fabric that replaces the film.

Since 2009, the Spanish company Ecoalf uses from plastic bottles and old tires, to recycled nylon and wool to make clothes all types.

“I wanted to create a truly sustainable fashion brand and I thought that the most sustainable thing was not to continue using the planet’s natural resources indiscriminately, to guarantee the needs of future generations”, explains its founder.

energy saving

Lower energy consumption not only results in a benefit for the environment, but also for the pockets of all users who must then pay for the service.

Tado, one of the fastest growing German startups, provides a smart thermostat which, connected to a mobile application, allows the heating and air conditioning to be controlled, even without the user being in the home. In addition, it provides different statistics that help optimize electricity use. ANDsThe start-up is one of the fastest growing in Germany and is enjoying enormous success in Europe and the United States.