E-commerce giant Amazon has selected 15 sustainability-focused start-ups, from pre-loveed fashion businesses to electronics makers, to take part in its four-week programme.
Amazon is providing a four-week programme including expert-led workshops, specialised mentorship, a tailored curriculum and access to a network of entrepreneurs in the sustainability sector.
The selected companies’ offerings span from pre-loved fashion to fast-charging electric vehicle batteries, with a diverse range of locations and demographics, headquartered across 10 countries and employing more than 600 people collectively.
The 15 start-ups focus on scaling their business in one of the categories: curricular economy, energy in buildings, and packaging.
Since its inception in 2022, Amazon’s Sustainability Accelerator has supported more than 25 start-ups across the UK and Europe, providing over £1 million in grants and credits, and helping its chosen businesses to increase sales by an average of 700% and raise over £15 million.
This year, the Sustainability Accelerator onboarded three UK companies, including Cheesecake Energy, Breathe Batteries and renewal brand ACS Clothing.
Zak Watts, Amazon’s international director of sustainability, said: “I’m so excited to welcome 15 ambitious start-ups to join the Amazon Sustainability Accelerator this year, including our first-ever Climate Tech Pilot. The scope of businesses involved means we can support even more entrepreneurs to reach their potential. Not to mention the one-of-a-kind opportunity to test their technology directly with parts of Amazon’s business.
“It is our mission for the Amazon Sustainability Accelerator to be the best programme of its kind in the world for entrepreneurs to pioneer and scale cutting-edge sustainable solutions.”
Based in Glasgow, ACS Clothing processes six million items of clothing per year for returns, rental, subscription and resale through its cleaning and repair service. It is now Europe’s largest circular fashion hub, working with renowned brands and retailers including Chloé, The North Face, LK Bennett and Timberland, extending the life of garments and minimising landfill.
Andrew Rough, CEO of ACS Clothing, said: “As pioneers of circular fashion fulfilment for over 25 years, ACS Clothing is driven by a mission to reshape the fashion industry from the traditional take-make-dispose model, towards a circular model that extends the life of materials and diverts clothing away from landfill.
“We have already helped several leading fashion brands join the circular economy and strengthen their sustainability achievements. Joining the Amazon Sustainability Accelerator will equip us with the resources we need to scale-up and push on with transforming the global fashion economy.”
Ezra Konvitz, director & head of accelerators, Founders Intelligence, also commented: “We love finding the ways major companies can work with leading start-ups creating the future. The incredible start-ups and technologies that are part of the Pilot Challenge cohort give cause for hope – if we can help them find the best ways to work with Amazon’s scale we’ll achieve a game-changing impact.”