A festival of ideas! 339 applications for Green Alley Award 2024

Record-breaking number of applications for Green Alley Award

6 December 2023

More than 330 startups from 29 European countries have applied to compete for the Green Alley Award 2024.

Over the past three months, the Green Alley Award has witnessed a great response from startups across Europe, showing the widespread enthusiasm for and commitment to the circular economy.

As the curtain falls on the application phase, it is time to reflect on the journey so far and celebrate the unprecedented number of applicants.

Delving into the facts and figures reveals some important insights.

Firstly, the standout feature is the strong participation from startups, with a remarkable 339 applications coming from all over Europe. Most startup applications came from Germany (19%), followed by the UK (16%), Italy (11%) and Spain (9%).

The second key observation pertains to waste streams. The most prominent is textile waste, with more than 50 applications, followed by food waste with 50 entries, and packaging with almost 50 entries. The remaining streams include municipal waste, critical raw materials, e-waste and batteries.

Examining the diverse range of companies currently vying for the Green Alley Award, multiple types of solutions are on display, ranging from waste prevention (36%) to digital solutions and recycling (both 32%).

Looking at the business models of these startups, more than 160 offer a product, 95 provide a service, and 83 focus on technology.

These projects represent excellent circular economy solutions, featuring innovative business ideas and strong, dedicated teams.

According to Filipa Moita of the Green Alley Award: “This is an impressive result, and we are delighted to see all these relevant circular economy projects. We are excited at the prospect of working with the selected participants and harnessing this energy into tangible outcomes. The journey has just begun, and we are eager to build on this momentum as we strive toward our overarching goal of fostering innovation, sustainability, and positive change.”