Green Business Award 2024: Three sustainable pioneers in the final
Three Swiss companies from different sectors prove that sustainability and economic success go hand in hand. Algrano, which promotes the direct coffee trade with its online marketplace for green coffee. New Roots, which produces plant-based cheese and dairy alternatives, and Selfrag, which extracts valuable raw materials from slag from waste incineration plants. These three companies are in the final of the Green Business Award 2024.
The Green Business Award will be presented for the sixth time on February 14, 2025 and honors Swiss solutions that combine ecological impact with economic success. 36 companies were nominated for the Green Business Award this year. The following three companies impressed the renowned jury headed by jury president and former Federal Councillor Doris Leuthard the most:
Algrano AG from Zurich (ZH) - why direct coffee trade reduces the CO₂ footprint
Switzerland is a coffee country: over 50% of the global coffee trade passes through Switzerland. However, it is difficult to trace the supply chain back to the coffee producers, as the trade involves many intermediate stages and is usually subject to trade secrecy. The problem: 2/3 of coffee emissions are generated in the country of origin. This is because producers cannot afford sustainable cultivation financially. CEO and founder Raphael Studer recognized this around ten years ago and founded Algrano. Its platform enables direct contact between roasters and coffee producers. As a result, producers earn 30-40% more and can invest in sustainable cultivation. Direct trade triples the proportion of Fairtrade and certified coffee. "With Algrano, we were impressed by the overall package - they make a valuable contribution to the environment, but also combine social and economic sustainability," says Doris Leuthard about the jury's decision.
New Roots AG from Oberdiessbach (BE) - Cheese alternatives with up to 60% less CO₂ emissions than cow's milk products
Swiss people eat around 23 kilos of cheese per capita every year. Yet animal products are among the foods with the largest ecological footprint: cheese made from cow's milk comes right after beef. But many people find it difficult to give up cheese - partly because there are no tasty alternatives. This was also the case for Alice Fauconnet and Freddy Hunziker when Hunziker switched to a vegan diet after an accident. So they started working on plant-based alternatives. Since 2016, New Roots has been developing, producing and selling plant-based and protein-rich cheese and dairy alternatives. With 60 percent less CO₂ and 40 percent less water consumption compared to cow's milk products, they significantly reduce the ecological footprint. New Roots relies on traditional Swiss production methods to preserve the cheese craft and use existing infrastructure. Cédric Habermacher, Director of Green Business Switzerland, is convinced: "Most people are aware that meat has a poor environmental footprint. However, many underestimate the negative environmental impact of cheese. New Roots is actively promoting this rethink and taking a bold step forward."
Selfrag AG from Kerzers (FR) - Circular economy by transforming waste into valuable raw materials
Around 800,000 tons of incineration residues from waste incineration plants are produced in Switzerland every year. Selfrag uses its technology to extract valuable metals and minerals from the so-called bottom ash. Selfrag recovers more copper from one ton of slag than from one ton of ore from the world's largest copper mine. Selfrag has a recovery rate of 50%, which is the highest in the industry. In this way, they reduce CO₂ emissions and help close the gap to a fully realized circular economy. Their goal: to return half of Switzerland's incineration residues to the recovery process with four to six plants every year. This will also solve the problem of a shortage of landfill space for bottom ash. "Selfrag impressively demonstrates how the circular economy creates new value. The technology has enormous potential, as it is scalable both internationally and in other areas," explains Doris Leuthard.
The final of the Green Business Award will take place on February 14, 2025 at the Impact Circle of Impact Gstaad. The finalists will present their solutions to potential investors, giving them the opportunity to secure growth financing. Because only when Swiss solutions can scale internationally can real impact for the planet be created.
Source: www.greenbusiness.ch
