Start-ups tackling some of the world’s biggest sustainability challenges will trial technology with Amazon across Europe after winning funding in this year’s Amazon Sustainability Accelerator (ASA). Eleven start-ups from across Europe (as well as from the US and Canada) have been awarded the opportunity to test their pioneering innovations within Amazon operations, with a potential investment of up to €2 million.
The start-ups will work with Amazon in the UK, Denmark, France, Germany, and Spain to test new ways to recycle electronic waste, innovative packaging methods, ground-breaking building materials, and using artificial intelligence (AI) to improve energy efficiency. The pilots will vary in both duration and scope depending on the challenge that is being addressed, with the opportunity for wider partnerships on completion.
Cheesecake Energy from the UK will deploy its compressed air and thermal technology to provide safe, reliable energy storage within Amazon’s European operations, reducing emissions from electricity usage. Cheesecake Energy was founded at the University of Nottingham and uses energy storage systems to capture electricity generated by solar power during the day to provide additional energy during peak hours, or at night when the sun doesn’t shine. The technology will be used in selected Amazon fulfilment centres (FC) in Europe.
“Storing energy for longer periods is vital as we accelerate towards net zero,” said Michael Simpson, Chief Commercial Officer at Cheesecake Energy. “We are excited to test our innovative technology with Amazon. This will help the company store excess solar energy and use it when needed. It’s great that Amazon shares our belief in the potential of the Cheesecake Energy technology, to reduce the cost of energy storage as well as ensuring renewable energy is used efficiently.”
To support our packaging reduction efforts, start-ups Re-Zip and Hipli will launch pilots to ship close to 100,000 orders across France, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and Austria using unique, reusable packaging.
“We are delighted with the opportunity to test our model on a large scale with Amazon and thus contribute to a more sustainable future for e-commerce,” said Anne-Sophie Raoult, co-founder of Hipli. “Collaborating with a player of the size of Amazon gives us the unique opportunity to demonstrate the full potential of our approach to drastically reduce the use of disposable packaging at the industry level.”
Circu Li-Ion from Luxembourg will help extend the life of Amazon’s batteries, using robots to disassemble and support batteries upcycling, giving them a second life, reducing lithium-ion waste, and decreasing carbon-intensive material extraction.
Throughout the pilots, Amazon’s subject matter experts will work closely with the start-ups, offering feedback, troubleshooting assistance, and opportunities to refine their technologies to ensure they work smoothly in their respective placements. Upon completion, we will assess the environmental impact, financial viability, and overall effectiveness of the pilots to determine whether any can be scaled across other Amazon sites as part of a long-term partnership.
“This trailblazing programme is a testament to Amazon’s commitment to supporting innovation and driving positive change,” said Amazon’s Sustainability Director Justine Mahler. “By providing a real-world testing ground for unique and cutting-edge technologies, we’re not only reducing our environmental impact but also creating a blueprint for more sustainable practices across industry.”
Since launching in 2022, the Amazon Sustainability Accelerator has supported more than 40 start-ups across the UK and Europe, provided more than €1 million in grants and credits, and helped those businesses on average increase sales by 700% and raise over €18.7 million to date.
