Amazon Unveils Latest Cohort of Start-ups for Its Sustainability Accelerator Program

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In a game-changing step towards sustainability, four UK-based start-ups have been selected for this year’s Amazon Sustainability Accelerator. This transformative Europe-wide programme is dedicated to empowering early-stage businesses with groundbreaking ideas. This accelerator is not just about scaling companies; it's about creating a more sustainable tomorrow.

The 10-week programme promises a wealth of opportunities for the chosen start-ups. They will receive an equity-free grant, access to expert-led workshops, benefit from tailored mentorship by Amazon's sustainability specialists, and tap into Amazon Web Services' cutting-edge computing resources.

With a proven track record, the Amazon Sustainability Accelerator has already assisted over 50 start-ups, helping them skyrocket sales by a staggering 700%. Previous participants in the first two cohorts have collectively secured £40 million (€45 million) in funding, propelling their ideas into tangible success.

This year, four dynamic UK businesses are among the lucky few selected to join the accelerator, each taking on critical sustainability challenges, from revolutionising circular economies to advocating for ethical working practices. These trailblazing start-ups are set to make waves in their respective fields:

• Bantu Chocolate: Tackling the environmental and ethical issues embedded in the cacao industry, Bantu’s vertically integrated production model goes beyond Fairtrade standards. Their innovative approach ensures transparency and fairness while offering delicious cacao products using regenerative agriculture techniques, ensuring ethical practices from farm to shelf.

• Composty: To combat the scourge of microplastic pollution, Composty has crafted a durable, plastic-free alternative to traditional cleaning tools. Their sponges and cloths break down naturally once they’ve outlived their usefulness, providing a sustainable solution that performs just as well as conventional products but with far less environmental impact.

• Grace & Green: A certified B Corp company, Grace & Green aims to revolutionise the menstrual products industry with organic, sustainable alternatives. From organic cotton tampons to reusable period underwear, their products are free of harmful chemicals and designed to minimise environmental footprints while offering effective, eco-friendly solutions.

• KWERKY: This innovative start-up has created an additive-free powdered milk alternative sourced from oats and peas. Compared to traditional dairy or oat milk, KWERKY’s production process reduces carbon emissions, and its compact, concentrated powder format also reduces transportation-related environmental costs. Additionally, 82% of its ingredients are sourced locally from Europe.

These four UK innovators will join a diverse group of entrepreneurs from across Europe in the 2025 cohort:

• AuraSkin (Greece): AuraSkin upcycles spent coffee grounds, transforming them into eco-friendly skincare products and providing coffee shops with a circular solution to their waste management issues.

• Horée (France): This vegan skincare brand crafts plastic-free products using seasonal fruits and vegetables through a zero-waste, cold-press manufacturing process.

• Hygge (Italy): A pet food brand using locally sourced, human-grade ingredients to provide pets with sustainable, high-quality nutrition.

• Omuu Pet (Ireland): Specialising in insect-based pet products, Omuu Pet focuses on improving pet health while drastically reducing its environmental footprint.

With the launch of this accelerator, these start-ups are not just innovating for profit — they're leading the charge towards a more sustainable future. By fostering such creativity and ambition, Amazon remains a catalyst for positive change, demonstrating that businesses with a purpose can thrive while doing good for the planet.

"It’s inspiring to see entrepreneurs put sustainability at the heart of innovation. Since its launch, the Amazon Sustainability Accelerator has already helped over 50 start-ups build and scale products with reduced impact on the environment. I’m thrilled to welcome these innovative companies to our 2025 cohort and see how they bring their ideas for a sustainable future to life." – Priyanka Wadhawan, Director of Seller Services, Amazon

The Amazon Sustainability Accelerator collaborates with Europe’s leading climate innovation agency, Climate-KIC, and innovation strategy consultants, Growth Studio, to support start-ups in growing and developing their business plans.