A sustainable startup will warm the heart of any environmentally conscious investor. Germany in particular offers an impressive range of sustainable companies for investors, with German startups seeking to fundamentally change the current corporate landscape.
From electromobility and renewable energies to nutrition and resource efficiency, there are many fascinating green startups that are well established in the Federal Republic.
A 2020 survey by the Borderstep Institute suggests that a solid 21% of startups based in Germany can be classified as green startups. We will go into a little more detail about ten sustainable German startup companies in this article.
This list is not based on any ranking, nor is it a list of the best companies in the market. If you know any other interesting and sustainable companies, let us know!
1. GOT Bag — Backpacks made of ocean plastic
This young startup, based in Mainz, is committed to manufacturing sustainable backpacks using plastic found in the ocean. The idea came to life during a car journey when founders Benjamin Mandos and Roman Ruster started discussing the issue of plastic waste in the oceans. As passionate surfers and sailors, they both deemed it their duty to reduce the amount of waste ending up in the oceans every year, which is currently around 9 million tonnes, and play their part in protecting the environment.
Not only do they want to show that everyone is capable of doing something about marine littering, they also intend to make people aware of how to be more conscious when purchasing plastic products by offering an innovative solution.
2. Ecoworks — Net zero modernisation
Around a third of all CO2 emissions in Germany can be traced back to existing buildings. For this reason, renovating them to make them more energy-saving appears to be an ideal way to ensure that the goals of the Climate Action Plan 2050 are met.
The founders of Ecoworks GmbH take these goals very seriously. With the help of Energiesprong, their aim is to restructure buildings to a net zero standard, making the company one of many sustainable German startups. Their business model is based on a quick and economical approach that within just a few weeks enables houses to generate the total amount of energy required for heating, hot water and electrical appliances.
The pilot has already been carried out in the town of Hameln and is considered a milestone within the domain of climate-neutral living.
3. Einhundert Energie — A comprehensive energy package for renters
What if you could use photovoltaic energy to power your rental property? That’s just what Einhundert Energie GmbH wants to make possible. The demand for solar energy is high among renters in Germany, which is why founder Ernesto Garnier established a startup that enables renters to integrate solar systems directly into their homes.
In order for energy transition to be successful, green startups must be able to reach the majority of people living in urban environments. Einhundert Energie allows for energy consumption to be visualised on an apartment-by-apartment basis, offering renters a simple accounting model.
4. Frischepost — Fresh, local produce
Sustainably manufactured and local produce is often difficult to access and not readily available at the local supermarket. That’s why this sustainable startup came up with the idea to deliver this produce straight to customers’ front doors. The concept proved so successful that the company now employs 80 people and markets produce from 200 suppliers.
Founders Juliane Willing and Anna Gödrich want to make consumers aware of the cost-performance ratios that come into play during food production, which, in turn, supports regional suppliers in the long term.
5. Knister Grill — Innovative and sustainable outdoor products
Knister Grill has developed a portable BBQ that can be attached to a bike quickly and easily. The BBQ — manufactured in the EU — is smartly designed and does not use any plastics. In fact, the entire production cycle, including shipping, is 99% plastics-free.
Knister founder Carolin Kunert wants her BBQ to be a durable and recyclable product that is perfect for urban environments. The product, which can be transported by bike, can be attached to the handlebars of push pikes, power-assisted bikes and e-bikes, meaning that enjoying a BBQ in the city with friends is a breeze.
6. Ecosia — A search engine that plants trees
Ecosia is a search engine designed to compete with Google, all the while supporting climate protection projects. The revenue generated is used in 15 countries including Brazil, Peru and Burkina Faso to fund tree-planting initiatives. Founder Christian Kroll established his startup in 2019 and currently employs over 50 people. Each time an internet user searches for something on Ecosia, they are passively contributing to climate protection.
After each search, users are able to view how many new trees have already been planted as well as their own impact on the project so far. On average, 45 searches must be undertaken before a tree can be planted. The quality of the search engine itself is eminent as it is based on Bing algorithms.
7. Sirplus — Reducing food waste
Reselling discarded produce from supermarkets is how Sirplus makes its money. In Europe, consumers throw away around 90 million tonnes of produce each year. Startup founder Raphael Fellmer wants to avoid this waste by reducing it to the smallest possible extent.
For this reason, the company’s main focus is to buy produce that would have otherwise ended up in the bin. These products have either exceeded or are about to exceed their best before date. The company first checks the quality of the products and then sells them on to customers.
8. Active Giving — Planting trees while running
Like Ecosia, Active Giving also vows to plant trees, but it does so whenever people use the Active Giving app to go running and get their bodies moving. Founders Laurent Petit, Till Harnos and Brittany Salas have gained several thousand followers in less than a year, planting around 70,000 trees in the process.
This innovative project is funded thanks to partner companies who use the app to advertise their own products.
9. My Boo Bikes — Sustainable bikes and employment in Ghana
It is a known fact that using bikes contributes to environmental protection by reducing CO2 emissions. Jonas Stolke and Maximilian Schay from Kiel have taken things a step further with their company, My Boo Bikes. Their bikes are made from sustainable bamboo and are produced in Ghana, thus helping to create employment in the region.
The manufacturing process is done completely by hand, and bikes can be customized by the end users. This particular startup not only wants to offer its customers a unique biking experience but also seeks to further support a developing country with its endeavour while also protecting the environment.
10. Klima — Calculate your individual CO2 compensation fee
Using the Kilma app, users have the opportunity to offset their CO2 footprint by supporting environmental projects. In the app you can calculate your yearly carbon footprint and, based on the results, receive a suggestion for an appropriate monthly subscription fee.
Around 70% of the revenue generated are pumped into climate projects, for example tree-planting, solar initiatives and even climate-neutral cooking methods. The remaining 30% are used by the company to cover running costs and fund marketing campaigns.
How can you invest in sustainable companies?
These sustainable startups are just a small selection of many incredible German companies who are changing the world today.
There are various ways to get involved in the German impact-driven startup scene: You can learn more about how different startups create impact, you can purchase their products, or spread the word about them.
Investing in impact-driven startups is another step you can take to create a fairer and more sustainable world. Inyova makes it easy for you to invest in sustainable, socially responsible companies that are committed to solving the biggest problems of our time. Although our main focus is on large, publicly traded companies rather than startups, you can customize your portfolio to fully align it with your personal values.
Are you interested in impact-driven companies and do you want to contribute to protecting our environment with your investment? Then get your personalised impact investing strategy here – it’s free and non-binding. Using our easy online tool, you can pick investment themes based on your personal values and interests.
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