Ecology, sustainability, the environment or the circular economy are words that have gone from being rare in the world of startups and technology to being part of the DNA of many emerging companies and also ICT giants in recent years. If the environmental segment was considered a business apart from others or that it was minimally treated in the CSR (corporate social responsibility) section of organizations, it is now a key issue that any company takes into account. This interest of companies to incorporate sustainability as part of its values and corporate culture does not respond to chance, but is related to an increase in environmental awareness on the part of consumers. Thus, this aspect even influences their purchasing decisions more and more. In the corporate sphere, some technological giants have embraced this more eco-friendly approach. Some examples are HP, which last year launched its HP Elite Dragonflux, made with plastics recovered from the ocean, or Lenovo, which since 2018 has started using ecological and 100% biodegradable materials for its packaging, made of bamboo and sugar cane fiber. A trend that has been talked about a lot in the entrepreneurial ecosystem lately is the circular economy, that is, giving new life to objects and products instead of throwing them away. In this regard, there are all kinds of projects and initiatives. From a technological point of view, some platforms have emerged that sell refurbished devices, especially smartphones, practically like new ones. A rising trend is one that tries to combat food waste. Thus, there are more and more mobile applications that allow you to 'save food', such as Too Good to Go, Komefy or Phoenix, and at the same time they help to avoid tons of CO2. Other mobile tools are designed so that you can know what your carbon footprint is or the single-use plastic you consume for a day or a week. Thus, startups that are responsible for sending food home or shopping at home have changed their plastic containers for paper and cardboard, because users have been showing increasing concern about this issue. Startups are also trying to offer other ways to move around cities in less polluting ways. There are emerging companies dedicated to carsharing (car sharing), the rental of electric cars, electric motorcycles, electric scooters, etc. Sustainability has also opened a gap in the field of fashion and accessories. More and more startups are being created to sell sustainable clothing and accessories. Some cases are IAIOS, which makes jerseys like the ones before with recycled yarn, VOL, which uses recycled nylon from marine waste for its sportswear, or Pilatus, which sells ecological computer and mobile phone cases. Users are beginning to consider the ecological aspect or the care of the environment as a plus for the purchase of a product or the contracting of a service, or even a decisive element, and that is an aspect that entrepreneurs should not neglect in order not to lose customers or position against their competitors.
Sustainable projects can be subsidized
In Spain, numerous grants and grants can already be found for sustainable projects, both at the national and regional levels. The Empleaverde Program stands out, promoted by the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge, with an endowment of 5.7 million euros for the hiring of unemployed people in the field of the green and blue economy and a platform to support “green entrepreneurs”. These funds have been aimed at different businesses or segments, such as the mitigation of climate change, fishing and sustainable aquaculture , energy savings and efficiency or sustainable forest management. Currently, at European level, the European Green Deal, a funding program for green projects that finances everything from 100% sustainable energies, to constructions or renovations that improve the energy efficiency of buildings, initiatives that promote the circular economy, oceans without pollution or waste, etc. It finances innovative projects in a consortium and receives requests until January 26, 2020.
