TEN YEARS OF SUCCESS

In 2014, Landbell Group has established Europe’s first startup prize for the Circular Economy with a specific goal: to invest and innovate for the future by promoting circular economy startups. Over the first decade, this commitment paved the way for our evolution into a thriving startup ecosystem centered around circular practices.

We have forged a community of circular economy startups, receiving an excess of 1,600 applications, identifying 54 exceptional finalists, many successful winners and channelling investments exceeding €1,2 million.

THE INSPIRATION

One of the biggest challenges humanity is facing today is the drain on natural resources by conventional consumer industries – and the immense amount of waste caused by disposable items. We want to help realise ideas that make the most efficient use of resources and reduce waste drastically – from products to services and technologies. Therefore, our CEO Jan Patrick Schulz came up with an award that facilitates Circular Economy innovations in 2014: the Green Alley Award was born.

PREVIOUS WINNERS

2023

S.LAB

S.Lab

S.Lab from Ukraine offers a biobased home-compostable alternative to polystyrene. With their special technology, agricultural waste and hemp are transformed into a sustainable alternative extended polystyrene material.

Finalists:
BCome, Circulate, Simby, Takatari, Veridis

2022

VOLTFANG

Voltfang

Voltfang from Germany offers a green electricity storage system solution using only second life batteries from electric cars. With their special technology, the Voltfang system can store excess energy from solar panels and provide clean energy to companies and private households.

Finalists:
ScrapAd, MakeGrowLab, Flexi-Hex, Atelier Riforma

2021

Traceless Materials

traceless materials

Traceless Materials from Germany offers a biobased home-compostable alternative to single-use plastic. With their special technology, agricultural industry residues are transformed into a sustainable alternative to film or hard plastic packaging or plastic coating.

Finalists:
Carbonauten, Dimpora, Kleiderly, ReSync, TrusTrace

2019

GELATEX TECHNOLOGIES

Gelatex Technologies

Gelatex Technologies from Estonia offers an eco-friendly alternative to leather. This textile is made from the low-value gelatine waste of the meat and leather industries without the use of toxins – so it’s organic and biodegradable.

Finalists:
Cellugy,  LivingPackets, RMF Tech, Venvirotech, Flustix

2018

AEROPOWDER

Aeropowder

The UK startup Aeropowder uses feather waste from the poultry industry to produce sustainable thermal packaging. After cleaning and treatment, the feathers are covered in a certified, compostable, food grade liner.

Finalists:
Circular IQ, Ecoplasteam, MIWA, Refurbed, Superseven

2017

SULAPAC

Sulapac

The Finnish startup Sulapac invented a 100% biodegradable premium packaging made from FSC-certified wood and natural adhesives. It’s the perfect alternative to conventional plastic boxes for luxury goods like cosmetics or food.

Finalists:
Sustonable, Mimergy, Solmove, Sulfotools, Newcy

2016

GREEN CITY SOLUTIONS

Green City Solutions

Green City Solutions invented CityTree, a solar powered installation consisting of moss cultures that filters the air in cities. It works based on the Internet of Things and measures the plants’ requirements in real time.

Finalists:
Glowee, Mimica, Das Tiffin Projekt, restado, ResQ Club

2015

ADAPTAVATE

Adaptavate

Adaptavate from the UK developed a product called Breathaboard, an eco-friendly alternative to plasterboard. The Breathaboard paneling is made of 75 percent agricultural waste and regulates moisture in buildings.

Finalists:
Infarm, Binee, Entocycle, Votechnik, Solstrøm

2014

REPACK

RePack

RePack from Helsinki reduces packaging waste in e-commerce by creating a multipath system for reusable packaging

Finalists:
Pandacup, Kaputt.de, Original Unverpackt

PREVIOUS WINNERS

2023

S.LAB

S.Lab

S.Lab from Ukraine offers a biobased home-compostable alternative to polystyrene. With their special technology, agricultural waste and hemp are transformed into a sustainable alternative extended polystyrene material.

Finalists:
Carbonauten, Dimpora, Kleiderly, ReSync, TrusTrace

2022

VOLTFANG

Voltfang

Voltfang from Germany offers a green electricity storage system solution using only second life batteries from electric cars. With their special technology, the Voltfang system can store excess energy from solar panels and provide clean energy to companies and private households.

Finalists:
Carbonauten, Dimpora, Kleiderly, ReSync, TrusTrace

2021

Traceless Materials

traceless materials

Traceless Materials from Germany offers a biobased home-compostable alternative to single-use plastic. With their special technology, agricultural industry residues are transformed into a sustainable alternative to film or hard plastic packaging or plastic coating.

Finalists:
Carbonauten, Dimpora, Kleiderly, ReSync, TrusTrace

2019

GELATEX TECHNOLOGIES

Gelatex Technologies

Gelatex Technologies from Estonia offers an eco-friendly alternative to leather. This textile is made from the low-value gelatine waste of the meat and leather industries without the use of toxins – so it’s organic and biodegradable.

Finalists:
Cellugy,  LivingPackets, RMF Tech, Venvirotech, Flustix

2018

AEROPOWDER

Aeropowder

The UK startup Aeropowder uses feather waste from the poultry industry to produce sustainable thermal packaging. After cleaning and treatment, the feathers are covered in a certified, compostable, food grade liner.

Finalists:
Circular IQ, ecoplasteam, MIWA, refurbed, Superseven

2017

SULAPAC

Sulapac

The Finnish startup Sulapac invented a 100% biodegradable premium packaging made from FSC-certified wood and natural adhesives. It’s the perfect alternative to conventional plastic boxes for luxury goods like cosmetics or food.

Finalists:
Sustonable, Mimergy, Solmove, Sulfotools, Newcy

2016

GREEN CITY SOLUTIONS

Green City Solutions

Green City Solutions invented CityTree, a solar powered installation consisting of moss cultures that filters the air in cities. It works based on the Internet of Things and measures the plants’ requirements in real time.

Finalists:
Glowee, Mimica, Das Tiffin Projekt, Restado, ResQ Club

2015

ADAPTAVATE

Adaptavate

Adaptavate from the UK developed a product called Breathaboard, an eco-friendly alternative to plasterboard. The Breathaboard paneling is made of 75 percent agricultural waste and regulates moisture in buildings.

Finalists:
Infarm, Binee, Entocycle, Votechnik, Solstrøm

2014

REPACK

RePack

RePack from Helsinki reduces packaging waste in e-commerce by creating a multipath system for reusable packaging

Other winners:
FoodLoop, GreenLab Berlin

Finalists:
Pandacup, Kaputt.de, Original Unverpackt

OUR JURY IN BERLIN 2024

Jan Patrick Schulz

CEO Landbell Group

Martin Tobin

CCO Landbell Group

Michael Wernitz

OneCrowd GmbH

Dr. Anne Lamp

CEO & Founder, traceless materials

Katrin-Cécile Ziegler

Environmental Economist, Digital Expert, Tech Journalist

Julia Bialetska

CEO and Co-Founder, S.Lab

Martin Wright

Chair of Positive News

Roman Alberti

Founder & MD, Voltfang

MORE ABOUT
PREVIOUS FINALISTS

Visit our News section to learn more about why our finalists made it to the Grand Finale in Berlin – and what has become of them in the meantime.

MORE ABOUT
THE TEAM

Are you curious about the people who organise the Green Alley Award? Visit About us, have a look at our team and find out what drives us to do our jobs.