By providing a sustainable alternative to traditional plastics, traceless materials is helping to reduce the environmental impact of plastic waste. The use of agricultural leftovers to create their biomaterial not only reduces COâ‚‚ emissions but also minimizes the use of fossil fuels in production. Additionally, the material is home-compostable, ensuring that it can easily break down after use without harming the environment.
With the increasing global focus on reducing plastic waste and finding more eco-friendly alternatives, traceless materials is well-positioned to make a significant impact in the circular economy. By offering a solution that is both sustainable and practical, the company is addressing the growing demand for environmentally friendly materials across various industries.
Recognition
traceless materials has received recognition for its innovative approach to creating sustainable materials. The company was awarded the prestigious Green Alley Award in 2024, highlighting its commitment to circular economy solutions. Additionally, traceless materials was selected as a startup winner at the Santander X Global Challenge Circular Economy Revolution in June 2025, showcasing its potential to revolutionize the way materials are produced and used.
As consumers and businesses alike continue to prioritize sustainability and environmental responsibility, traceless materials’ bio-based, compostable material offers a compelling solution for reducing plastic waste and promoting a more circular economy.
Overall, these innovative startups are leading the way in driving the growth of the circular economy and demonstrating the potential for sustainable solutions to address pressing environmental challenges. By focusing on innovative technologies and approaches, these companies are not only creating new opportunities for economic growth but also helping to build a more sustainable future for generations to come.
With 75 employees and its first large-scale plant being built, Traceless is now moving from pilot to commercial production and aims to replace thousands of tons of conventional plastic a year. The company has announced a partnership with global packaging manufacturer Mondi.
Recognition
Traceless has been making waves in the industry, winning the prestigious 2021 Green Alley Award and receiving a substantial €2.42 million EIC Accelerator grant from the European Innovation Council. The company’s commitment to sustainability and innovation has also been recognized with awards such as the German Entrepreneur Award and the German Sustainability Award/Next Economy Award. In a significant milestone, Traceless secured €36.6 million in Series A funding in 2023, with an additional €5 million from the German Federal Ministry for the Environment’s Innovation Programme.
Kelpi
Kelpi, based in Bristol, UK, has developed recyclable barrier coatings made from seaweed, which are used to make packaging moisture resistant and shiny on paper and cardboard packaging. These coatings replace fossil-fuel-based plastics and are fully recyclable and home-compostable. The use of seaweed as a raw material is environmentally friendly as it grows without the need for fertilizers, fresh water, or farmland, while also absorbing COâ‚‚ as it grows.
Reported impact
Kelpi’s technology has garnered attention from industry giants such as L’Oréal, Diageo, and Waitrose, with research and development contracts in place. The recyclable barrier coatings solve a crucial problem in paper packaging recycling, as traditional plastic coatings are not recyclable. By using seaweed from sustainable farms, Kelpi is contributing to reducing ocean acidification.
Recognition
Kelpi was recognized as a scaleup winner at the Santander X Global Challenge | Circular Economy Revolution in June 2025. The company has raised approximately ÂŁ9.5 million ($12.7 million) in funding, including support from Innovate UK.
Protein Evolution
Protein Evolution (PEI) employs AI-designed enzymes to break down plastic and polyester textile waste into their original chemical building blocks, known as monomers, which can be reused in the production of new plastics. The company’s focus is on recycling polyester waste from items such as PET bottles, clamshell containers, and synthetic textiles. By utilizing AI to map millions of unique enzymes, PEI offers a biological alternative to energy-intensive mechanical and chemical recycling methods.
Reported impact
PEI’s enzyme-based recycling process is low in energy consumption and emissions, providing a sustainable solution to the plastic waste crisis. If implemented at scale, this technology could help recycle a significant portion of clothing that currently ends up in landfills or incinerators.
Recognition
Protein Evolution was featured in the StartUs Insights 2025 Circular Economy Report as one of five highlighted startups. The company has secured $20 million in seed funding to support its innovative recycling technology.
Radical Dot
Radical Dot, a German startup, specializes in converting mixed plastic waste, including hard-to-recycle PVC and polystyrene, into chemicals that can be used to produce new plastics. By repurposing these materials, Radical Dot helps reduce the reliance on fossil-based plastics in industrial chemical production, while diverting plastic waste from landfills and incinerators.
Reported impact
Radical Dot’s focus on processing mixed plastic waste fills a critical gap in current recycling infrastructure, particularly for materials that are challenging to recycle using traditional methods. The technology aims to decrease both fossil fuel consumption and emissions associated with producing new chemicals from oil.
Recognition
Radical Dot was named a startup winner at the Santander X Global Challenge | Circular Economy Revolution in June 2025, alongside other innovative companies in the space. The recognition came with a shared prize of €120,000 to support Radical Dot’s mission.
Glacier
Co-founded by Rebecca Hu-Thrams and Areeb Malik, Glacier has developed AI-powered robotic sorters for material recovery facilities (MRFs). These robots use computer vision technology trained on billions of images to identify and sort over 70 types of materials at high speeds. The robots operate in environments where human workers face higher injury rates, providing a safer and more efficient solution for recycling facilities. Glacier’s systems also generate valuable data on the contents of waste streams, aiding brands in designing more recyclable packaging.
Reported impact
Glacier’s robots are currently processing recycling for a significant portion of American households, demonstrating their effectiveness in waste management. By implementing Glacier’s technology, facilities have seen a substantial reduction in PET waste going to landfills, resulting in increased revenue. The company’s systems offer a return on investment in a short timeframe, making them a viable solution for waste management facilities.
Recognition
Glacier was honored as one of TIME’s Best Inventions 2025, highlighting the impact of their innovative robotic sorters. The company has raised $16 million in Series A funding, along with earlier funding of $7.7 million from prominent investors. Glacier’s success has been featured in top publications such as TechCrunch, Fast Company, and Waste360.
CurbWaste
Founded by waste industry professional Mike Marmo, CurbWaste is revolutionizing waste management by developing an operating system for independent waste haulers. The CurbPOS platform combines various functions such as order management, real-time dispatch, automated billing, and materials tracking in a single platform. By providing detailed data and documentation, CurbWaste’s platform supports LEED diversion reporting and Recycling Certification Institute compliance.
Reported impact
CurbWaste has onboarded over 150 haulers across 40 states, bringing digital solutions to a sector that has historically lacked technological advancements. The platform standardizes data flows for different reporting requirements, enhancing transparency in the waste management industry. By connecting collection systems with processing facilities, CurbWaste establishes the necessary traceability for Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) compliance nationwide.
Recognition
In October 2025, CurbWaste raised a substantial $28 million in Series B funding, bringing the company’s total funding to $50 million. The platform’s success in modernizing waste management operations has garnered recognition within the industry and among investors.
CurbWaste, a waste management software company, has been making waves in the industry and gaining recognition from top publications such as Axios, Waste Dive, PYMNTS, and Resource Recycling. The company has recently announced a $28 million funding round to further develop their AI-powered business intelligence platform.
CurbWaste is part of a growing movement of innovators in the circular economy space, focusing on addressing material challenges such as polycotton textiles, solar panels, paper packaging coatings, and mixed plastic waste. These companies have shown commercial viability by securing agreements with major brands and building industrial-scale facilities.
While the circular economy is still a small part of the global materials system, with only about 7.2% of used materials being cycled back into the economy, the industry is gaining momentum. With new policies like Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations gaining traction in Europe and the U.S., and over $670 million in venture funding going to circular economy startups in 2025 alone, companies like CurbWaste are well-positioned to demonstrate that circularity can work at scale.
By leveraging AI and data analytics, CurbWaste is modernizing the waste industry and targeting growth opportunities. Their innovative approach to waste management is not only environmentally sustainable but also financially rewarding. With their recent funding round, CurbWaste aims to expand their reach and further establish themselves as leaders in the circular economy space.
Overall, CurbWaste and other companies in the circular economy sector are paving the way for a more sustainable future. By embracing innovative technologies and business models, they are proving that circularity is not only possible but also profitable. As the industry continues to grow, we can expect to see more companies like CurbWaste driving positive change and creating a more sustainable world for future generations.
