Blue Earth Summit is not like any other sustainability festival that exists. As important as technical solutions and policy are in the race to net-zero, human conversations form a big part of the change that’s needed to solve the climate crisis.
But we can’t ignore the fact that making sustainable change requires monetary input. Which is why the BE100 awards at the festival were so poignant. After rounds of pitches throughout the week, a winning company was announced in the Start, Grow and Scale categories to receive funding to take their project or business further.
And seeing them pitch the power of their brands was magic for us. The winners of the BE100 have companies that are real winners for the planet. From carbon-sequestering additives to concrete (from the amazing female-founded Low Carbon Materials), to faster ways to test water safety and activated charcoal to produce extra renewable energy, what was clear was that the solution to the climate crisis is not one-size-fits-all.
Segura is the world’s most advanced water testing tool for heavy metals measurement and can deliver results faster and cheaper than traditional lab testing. They were the Start category winner.
Raft Energy was the Grow category winner with a patent-pending engineered activated biochar which increases methane yield by 25 – 40% for higher gas output, more renewable energy and better profitability.
Low Carbon Materials decarbonise concrete and asphalt, offering a carbon sequestration opportunity within building materials for our built environment. They were the winner of the Scale category. What blew us away here, in particular, is that this company started from the ‘dorm rooms’ of Durham university students… this is really inspiring.
It just goes to show that innovative solutions come from:
- A unique and in-depth understanding of industry
- Starting with something small and broadening the impact
- Combining lots of little ideas
- Looking at the status quo in a different light
- A willingness to have a go
Every industry needs support to achieve their net zero goals while also considering human impact and profit. It’s why, despite the funding given to the winners of the BE100 final, all the companies who entered are contributing massively to our collective net zero goals.
It’s something that we’re passionate about at Astraia Collective. We partner with brands who are making a positive impact – or want to – to share their mission, garner more support and challenge themselves to develop further. For more on how our digital marketing, business strategy and legal advice can support your next project, reach out or message hannah@astraiadigital.com, laura@astraiadigital.com or jonathan@astraiadigital.com
