World Environment Day: 10 Startups Protecting The Environment

World Environment Day was just yesterday, and it is the biggest yearly event run by the United Nations for nature care. It began in 1973 and now sees schools, city councils and households run litter sweeps, tree plantings and science talks across more than 150 countries. The organisers keep the format as… choose a theme, share toolkits online and invite every group to post its plan on an interactive map.

Every edition has a host nation that leads local rallies and broadcasts a live show of music, films and expert panels. Social media challenges take the reach all the way up by asking users to share photos of clean ups or reuse swaps. Over time the day has moved public thinking from single events toward daily habits that cut waste and save energy.

 

How Does The 2025 Theme Deal With Plastic Waste?

 

This year the slogan is Beat Plastic Pollution. Campaign notes speak on how broken bottles have turned into tiny fragments now found in human blood. The organisers link the date to treaty talks set for early August, when governments will meet to draft a deal that cuts throw-away plastic across supply chains.

The call to action? Swap single-use cups for refillable flasks. Carry cloth bags on every shop trip. Sort soft packaging for special drop-off bins. Community leaders can post beach sweeps, art shows and classroom games on the global event map so neighbours can join in.

 

What Impact Do UK Green Startups Have?

 

A ESG VC report reviews 587 venture-backed companies. Only 24% of UK startups measured their carbon footprint in 2023 while 35% of European peers did. The study also shows that 57% of British teams paid for staff study time and 68 % ran mental health support, both higher than the continental average.

Cyber controls look strong, with 3/4 of UK startups teaching secure practise and 80% tracking data risks. The share of boards with at least one woman moved from 55% to 59%, yet 41% still have no female director.

 

Where Are The Biggest Gaps?

 

According to the survey, fewer than 1 in 10 UK startups set a net zero goal, compared with 11% in Europe. Only 30% hand staff set policies/rules on responsible use of generative AI even though the tools are being picked up on more and more as time goes.

Henry Philipson, ESG_VC president, said, “We design this report to give founders practical steps on carbon counting, fair hiring and safe tech. Simple toolkits and shared data can lift performance across the whole venture field.”

World Environment Day reminds every startup that climate care links to market trust. Recording on emissions, staff welfare and safe code can turn pledges into daily action…

 

10 Startups Protecting The Environment

 

These 10 startups are helping make the environment a better place, here’s how…

 

1. Carbon Direct

 

 

Carbon Direct is the leader in science-based carbon management by helping emerging and established climate leaders like Microsoft, JPMorgan Chase, American Express, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, JetBlue, and The Russell Family Foundation drive scalable and just impact through deep decarbonisation strategies and carbon dioxide removal. With Carbon Direct’s scientific approach, organisations can confidently set targets and measure their emissions, implement reductions across their operations and supply chain, and build high-quality carbon dioxide removal into their climate plans to accelerate impact.

The US-based company was first founded in 2019 and distinguishes itself by combining rigorous scientific analysis with practical solutions for some of the world’s largest corporations. Beyond its advisory services, Carbon Direct is a thought leader in the sustainability sphere.

Carbon Direct has been recognised as one of LinkedIn’s Top Startups in both 2023 and 2024. The company operates in the environmental sector, focusing on carbon reduction and removal, and provides scientific and technical expertise to businesses, governments, and private entities committed to decarbonisation.

 

2. POCA audio

 

 

British innovator, POCA audio is on a mission to stop tech waste from reaching landfill and oceans, by creating tech that lasts. Its debut product, PINE Beat is a high-performance portable speaker and power bank with easily swappable batteries – extending both the life of the product and its off-grid playtime.

PINE Beat and its ingenious accessories are made from sustainable materials – including traceable ocean waste plastic, recyclable aluminium, natural rubber, recycled silicon, and organic cotton. As well as having user-swappable batteries, PINE Beat is also serviceable and upgradeable: e.g. the circuit board could be updated with a future-generation Bluetooth chipset.

POCA audio co-founder and product designer, Aaron Ox, notes: “Last year, half a billion gadgets ended up in UK landfill – countless amounts of portable speakers among them, as they’re typically sealed plastic designs that can’t be serviced. We’re here to stop this shameful waste with a speaker designed for life. All this without compromising quality: sustainable never sounded so good.”

PINE Beat is available in classic black anodised aluminium, with an IP67-rated durable, sand-proof and waterproof design – all adding to its long-life, go-anywhere credentials.

 

3. Silent Returns

 

 

 

Silent Returns tackles the pressing challenge of conserving biodiversity in remote habitats by providing advanced, non-intrusive ecological monitoring, which is essential for understanding and protecting diverse ecosystems where conventional human presence is disruptive or unsustainable. AI and robotic solutions will replace the legacy tools we’ve traditionally relied on—human observation, camera traps, and satellite imagery—which are too slow and often too imprecise to keep up with today’s biodiversity crisis.

Founded on the principles of ecological preservation and scientific discovery, Silent Returns is dedicated to advancing conservation efforts in remote ecosystems. The company strives to create a harmonious balance between technological innovation and environmental stewardship.

 

 

4. NovaSpark Energy

 

 

 

NovaSpark Energy is a clean energy startup revolutionising how we generate and access power. Based in Houston, the company develops mobile, on-site hydrogen generators that produce clean electricity with zero emissions, drastically reducing reliance on fossil fuels and helping combat climate change.

Unlike traditional energy infrastructure, NovaSpark delivers scalable, transportable energy solutions to remote and underserved areas, reducing the need for diesel generators or extensive grid expansions that often harm ecosystems. Their generators run on hydrogen, a clean fuel that emits only water vapor, providing a sustainable, reliable source of power.

NovaSpark’s technology is especially valuable during emergencies and in disaster relief scenarios, where access to clean, on-site electricity is crucial.

Led by CEO and co-founder Rick Harlow, NovaSpark Energy aims to accelerate the global transition to clean energy, paving the way for a more sustainable future.

The following three were presented by Thomas Bigagli, Partner, Plug and Play, UK division (one of the most active global early-stage startup investors, HQ’d in Silicon Valley):

 

5. Sandbox Carbon Inc.

 

 

 

Sandbox Carbon Inc. is on a mission to make disposing of CO₂ as easy as taking out the trash.

The company is developing carbon capture technology designed specifically for small and medium-sized businesses. Its solution connects directly to the source of emissions, such as boilers, furnaces, kitchen hoods, generators, and vehicles, and captures carbon dioxide before it can reach the atmosphere. At the core of this solution is the Carbon Dumpster, a modular system that simplifies the path to net-zero for commercial properties.

Sandbox Carbon operates with two primary revenue streams: the sale of its carbon capture hardware and a recurring services model that involves collecting used cartridges and permanently disposing of the captured CO₂. All core technology has been developed in-house, and the company is actively building a unique intellectual property portfolio to protect and scale its innovations.

The Carbon Dumpster is built around a proprietary carbon removal cartridge, which can be arranged in parallel to handle higher volumes of emissions depending on customer needs. Once full, cartridges are returned to Sandbox Carbon’s processing facility, where the captured carbon is removed and permanently sequestered. Importantly, no compressed gases or hazardous materials are stored at customer sites. Because the energy-intensive stages of the process occur off-site, the system adds minimal load to existing equipment and is easier to install as a retrofit.

In addition to stationary equipment, Sandbox Carbon’s technology can also be deployed in the mobility sector. It is compatible with vehicles such as trucks, buses, trains, and generators, offering a flexible and scalable solution for industries that are often difficult to decarbonise.

 

6. Aigen

 

 

 

 

Aigen is accelerating the transition to regenerative agriculture through a robotics service platform that addresses some of the most pressing challenges in modern farming. The company is launching the world’s first AI-driven, network-connected robotic fleet powered entirely by renewable energy sources. These autonomous robots are designed to reduce reliance on harmful chemicals while providing high-resolution insights and precision weeding capabilities across a wide range of crops.

Aigen’s fleet of small field robots simultaneously performs two critical tasks: removing weeds through electric shock or mechanical means, and collecting detailed agronomic data to inform smarter decisions. By driving weeding costs below $40 per acre, Aigen’s solution is positioned to be competitive not only in high-value organic crops but also in large-scale row crop agriculture.

At its core, Aigen’s mission is to create a healthier food system—one that eliminates toxic inputs, improves soil health, boosts crop yields, and supports a more resilient planet. Through innovation in robotics, AI, and clean energy, the company is building a future where farming is more sustainable, precise, and accessible to all.

 

7. Sustanix

 

 

 

 

Sustanix is a material science company pioneering 100% bio-based and recyclable coatings that provide water and grease resistance without the use of polyethylene or PFAS-based compounds. The company’s technology is currently undergoing trials with the five largest paper manufacturers in Europe, focused on optimising performance, application methods, and formulation efficiency.

At the foundation of Sustanix’s innovation is a commitment to scalable, sustainable design. The company exclusively utilises non-edible agricultural residues as raw materials—ensuring the feedstock does not interfere with the human food supply chain and remains industrially available across major global regions. Its manufacturing processes are engineered to integrate seamlessly into existing industrial infrastructure, allowing both production and application to be carried out with no need for new machinery. Sustanix also applies principles of green chemistry, leveraging ambient pressure conditions and moderate production temperatures between 90°C and 120°C to significantly reduce the carbon footprint of its operations.

With a long-term vision to expand beyond paper, Sustanix aims to scale its coating platform to additional industries including furniture, textiles, and composites. By delivering a high-performance, chemical-free alternative to conventional coatings, Sustanix is helping to drive the transition toward a more sustainable and circular materials economy.

 

8. Energea

 

 

Energea is a renewable energy investment platform offering SEC-approved opportunities that allow individuals to invest directly in solar energy projects around the world. With a minimum investment of just $100, Energea makes it easy for anyone from the United States to participate in financing clean energy infrastructure—no matter their background or portfolio size.

The platform focuses on high-impact solar projects in the United States, Brazil, and Africa, with plans to expand into Colombia. Each project helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions, displace fossil fuels, and provide energy independence to underserved communities.

What makes us different is our commitment to transparency and measurable impact. Through visual storytelling and investor dashboards, users track key metrics like megawatt hours generated and metric tons of CO₂ avoided—seeing the tangible outcomes of their investments.

Founded by industry leaders with deep experience in renewable energy, Energea has already raised over $150 million from everyday investors and delivers an average annual return of 12%.

By enabling broad access to institutional-quality clean energy assets, Energea isn’t just building solar projects—it’s building a global community committed to climate solutions and long-term sustainability.

 

9. Dryad Networks

 

 

 

Carsten Brinkschulte, CEO and co-founder of Dryad Networks, is passionate about discussing how tech can better protect our world from the growing threat of wildfires. Dryad’s ultra-early detection technologies, like the IoT network of embedded solar-powered sensors, can identify fires before they become devastating, allowing for faster containment to reduce the strain on personnel and resources, protect vital ecosystems, and save precious lives.

Wildfire smoke particles can surpass usual body defenses and infiltrate lungs, causing detrimental effects and long-term health issues like heart attacks, strokes, lung cancer, and decreased cognitive function. The IoT network is
enabled with AI capabilities that smell surrounding gases unique to each geographic location, which alerts firefighters.

Dryad’s sensors and gateways are designed to be as non-invasive as possible, crucially excluding batteries to eliminate the risk of fire hazards. Instead, using supercapacitors and solar panels to power these devices, which negates the introduction of potentially hazardous materials into the forest. By focusing on early detection and prevention, Dryad aims to reduce both the environmental and economic impacts of wildfires.

 

10. VEERUM

 

 

How VEERUM reduces environmental impact while prioritising safety

VEERUM is the world’s first visual operations platform. The VisOps platform brings industrial data to life in 3D, connecting teams with a shared view of the site, no matter where they are. From progress tracking to planning and collaboration, teams get the clarity they need to move faster and stay aligned—all in a browser. VEERUM knows that achieving business success goes hand in hand with reducing its client’s environmental footprint and ensuring the safety of their operations. Its digital twin technology is a powerful tool for making positive contributions to the environment and the safety of the workforce.

Reducing travel

One of the most exciting ways VEERUM’s digital twin software contributes to environmental sustainability is by minimizing the need for physical travel. Traditionally, maintaining and inspecting assets required personnel to be on-site, leading to carbon emissions from travel and often exposing workers to remote and challenging conditions. With VEERUM’s digital twin, teams can remotely access assets, visualize conditions, and analyze data without the need for frequent and extensive site visits. This not only reduces travel-related carbon emissions but also enhances the safety of industrial team. Clients have experienced a 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from reducing the need to travel to site.

Streamlining operations, minimizing impact

Imagine having the ability to digitally manage your industrial assets with precision, making informed decisions that not only optimize performance but also reduce your carbon footprint. That’s exactly what VEERUM DigitalTWIN offers. By providing a comprehensive, real-time view of assets and operations, teams gain insights that allow them to identify areas for efficiency improvement, reducing energy consumption and waste. Whether it’s optimizing the use of resources or minimizing unnecessary transportation, the digital twin helps them do more with less.

Safety simplified

VEERUM’s digital twin solution is simplifying safety. Through reducing exposure to sites by over 50%, VEERUM helps teams avoid unnecessary exposure to remote and potentially dangerous sites. With accurate and up-to-date asset information at their fingertips, they can proactively identify potential hazards, plan maintenance, and strategise interventions—all from the comfort and safety of the home or office. By minimising the need for personnel to be physically present in hazardous environments, companies are not only improving workplace safety but also making a meaningful contribution to their organisation’s safety culture.