When it comes to ESG ratings, there are several agencies that evaluate these goals, and each and every company has their own scoring system. Even though Europe requires big companies to regularly publish reports regarding environmental and societal impact, there are not any set rules regarding that within the EU. The R&D budget of the European Commission for 2021-2027 amounts to €444bn and aims to support high-potential green startups, offering an unprecedented opportunity for investors as the companies are not only market-ready with proven technologies but also have clean cap tables.

Therefore, the need for companies helping with the ESG goals is bigger than ever, so based on that we prepared a list of Ten ESG Startups that in our opinion, deserve the spotlight.

PlanA

Based in Berlin, planA is a startup specializing in monitoring CO2 emissions and improving the ESG index through their SaaS platform. Founded in 2017, their main goal is to accelerate the decarbonization of our society and prevent the devastating outcomes of worsening climate change. PlanA also implemented many reforestation, biodiversity, river protection, and local waste management fundraising projects. They offer their software to companies who aim at reducing and managing their CO2 emissions (planA Carbon Manager) and recently incorporated the ESG management module into their product. Plus, they recently secured $10M of Series A funding and opened a new office location in London!

Planetly

Founded in 2019, Planetly is another startup offering a Saas platform to help with carbon management for businesses in order to drive sustainability goals and implement ESG management.  Based in Berlin, the company currently provides their services to over 250 customers, including BMW, HelloFresh, and The Economist Group, and their in-house team consists of 25 different nationalities. In December 2021, Planetly was acquired by OneTrust, to incorporate ESG as a part of the product suite of OneTrust.

Apiday

Apiday extracts the relevant ESG data points and answers automatically for you. Based in Paris, Apiday main product is a SaaS platform for corporate ESG data management. The platform helps to easily collect all ESG data in one place, collaborate with third-party ESG consultants and automate ESG reporting and certification processes. Founded in 2021, the company has been backed by Speedinvest and REVENT, and they secured their ESG.

Verkor

Verkor is a French start-up based in Grenoble that aims to fast-track production of low‑carbon batteries in France, serving the European market. Founded in 2020, it secured a landmark €100 million funding round last July 2021 – less than a year since launch. The funds will go towards the company’s expansion including the construction of the Verkor Innovation Centre (VIC) where the advanced battery cells and modules will be designed to support Europe’s net-zero goals.

Zolar

Zolar is a German solar power systems provider founded in 2016. Zolar helps its customer install solar power systems in their roofs – serving as a single resource for everything needed, from planning all the way to installation. Zolar aims to remove the barrier of the high up-front cost of installing solar power systems in the homes of individual consumers by offering consumers the option to rent a photovoltaic system for as little as €54/month. After 20 years, the consumer can then buy the system for a symbolic Euro and enjoy its benefits for another ten years. In November 2021, Zolar secured €20 million in funding via a special purpose vehicle with Berliner Volksbank, bringing its total funding to date at €59 million. Zolar earmarked the fresh funds for entry into other European markets.

Volta Trucks

Swedish electric vehicle manufacturer Volta Trucks is trying to revolutionize what is called “last-mile” logistics by electrifying and redesigning large cargo vehicles, known as Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) in Europe, for middle- and last-mile delivery in urban centres. This way, collisions and carbon emissions caused by large delivery trucks are minimized. Founded in 2019, Volta Trucks raised €37 million in Series B funding last September 2021, to scale its operations, starting with a fleet of pilot vehicles in London and Paris. This last funding brings its total funding to €60 million.

Carbon Equity

Founded in 2021 and based out of Amsterdam, Carbon Equity is a climate fintech startup that enables people to invest more easily in climate funds. Carbon Equity makes it possible to invest in small ticket sizes starting from €100k. They plan to reduce the ticket size further in the future. In August 2021, Carbon Equity raised €1.2 million in seed funding from Dutch VC 4Impact. Making it easier to invest in climate funds will help make more money available to continue innovation in climate tech.

Calyxia

Calyxia is a French start-up based in Bonneuil-sur-Marne, Ile-de-France addressing microplastic pollution through its biodegradable microcapsules that aim to fundamentally change the way industries utilise microplastics. Calyxia is tackling an EU ban on all ‘intentionally added microplastics’ that will go into effect as of this year. Microplastics are found in controlled delivery products such as those active ingredients in crop protection and fragrances in detergents that eventually find their way into our water systems and are ingested by fish. In September 2021, Calyxia raised €15 million bringing its total funding to €23 million to date.

Biophilica

Biophilica is a UK based start-up. Biophilica converts green waste into a leather-like material which is fully recyclable and compostable, with its first alternative leather product range called Treekind. The leather-like aesthetic and material is non-toxic and contains zero plastic (PU or PVC), and can be used for a variety of product applications, starting with accessories, such as bags, watch straps and wallets. Start-up raised £1.2m in Seed round to bring its plastic-free leather alternative, Treekind, to market. US-based investor Rhapsody Venture Partners, known for their focus on hard tech and experience scaling lab-based innovations to broad market availability, led the round with the participation of Fashion for Good and previous investors from Biophilica’s Pre-Seed round.

Sunswap

Sunswap offer a zero-emission alternative to diesel Transport Refrigeration Units (TRUs) with energy prediction, Adaptive Battery CapacityTM and solar power, replacing diesel powered refrigeration. Sunswap secured investment of £3m from Barclays and the Clean Growth Fund, enabling it to accelerate the development of a fully electric, zero-emission alternative to diesel-powered Transport Refrigeration Units.