The Amazon Sustainability Accelerator has picked six UK businesses to join its scheme and reach a new generation of environmentally conscious customers.
The six UK start-ups will join a 10-week programme that includes expert-led workshops, specialised mentorship, a tailored curriculum and a grant.
All of the selected businesses create everyday products that help to tackle large sustainability issues such as circular food production, fast fashion and menstrual product waste.
The Amazon Sustainability Accelerator was launched in 2022 and has supported more than 40 start-ups across the UK and Europe.
The six new companies were chosen from more than 1,000 applications to join the programme.
Amazon sustainability director Justine Mahler said: “The Amazon Sustainability Accelerator is a springboard for those scaling a more sustainable product business, giving founders the skills, connections and confidence to reach their full growth potential.
“I am delighted to welcome this year’s start-up founders who are showcasing innovative alternatives to everyday items.”
The six start-ups joining the programme are:
1. Asan
Asan has designed an easy to remove menstrual cup, it’s simple-to-use ring design aims to stop thousands of pads and tampons from going to landfill every year.
Asan founder Ira Guha said: “As a challenger menstrual health brand, Amazon is our primary go-to- market channel when entering new geographies.”
2. Morrow
Morrow has created ‘beanless’ coffee from locally grown and up-cycled ingredients, such as fruit pips, peels and ancient grains.
Morrow replicates the flavour and aroma of traditional coffee to provide a more environmentally friendly solution to conventional coffee production.
3. MYOM
Oat milk company MYOM sells an oat premix that turns into milk when mixed with water.
The company aims to cut down on packaging by being sold in recyclable pouches that are delivered through the letterbox.
4. Paint Zero
Paint Zero has developed an innovative fossil-fuel-free, plant-based paint.
The paint avoids the petrochemical liquids and plastics used in standard paints, eliminating toxicity and reducing transport emissions and costs.
5. ReBorn:
ReBorn turns industrial waste into recyclable homeware products such as draining racks, kitchen towel holders and soap dishes.
The company claims to have already saved more than 10 tonnes of waste from landfill and 100 tonnes of carbon emissions as a byproduct of the materials it uses.
6. ZIG+STAR:
ZIG+STAR is tackling growing feet through good-to-grow removable midsoles that allow six months of additional wear in children’s shoes and boots.
On a mission to reduce waste, it also offers an incentivised trade-in scheme where old shoes can be sent back to be donated or recycled free of charge, in exchange for product discounts.
ZIG+STAR founder Ali McAleavy said: “The programme offers an amazing opportunity to dig deeper into our climate impact, connect with like-minded businesses and explore new routes to market.”
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