Circular Economy Startups

FAST Metals recovers critical minerals — iron, alumina, titania, and rare earths — from industrial waste streams such as red mud, bauxite residue, and tailings using a low-temperature hydrometallurgical process that removes iron first, deployed via mobile modular skids at refinery sites. It serves alumina refineries and other waste producers by processing their liabilities, and supplies metals buyers seeking to diversify supply chains, with a focus on domestic (U.S.) critical mineral supply.

2 investors

Fattastic Technologies, founded in 2022, develops plant-based fat ingredients for use in food and other applications. It creates alternative fat formulations from plant-based oils for the food and ingredient industry.

2 investors

FAUME provides a turnkey resale solution for fashion and luxury brands, handling trade-in management, item authentication, reconditioning, pricing, and online and in-store secondhand sales. It offers omnichannel and cross-border tools, AI-driven pricing and logistics, and analytics to help brands launch and scale circular, secondhand business models across Europe and 30+ countries.

2 investors

FenX develops proprietary materials technology for sustainable, circular construction, aiming to produce affordable living spaces that reduce waste and improve energy efficiency. It positions itself in the construction materials industry, collaborating with established industry companies.

2 investors

Fiber Global is a climate technology company that reclaims waste streams like corrugated cardboard to manufacture building materials, including its flagship Forged Fiber Board panels. Its products serve the furniture and construction industries.

2 investors

Fixably provides a SaaS aftersales platform for repair businesses to manage device repair, refurbishment, and resale more efficiently. The company positions itself in the circular economy, aiming to extend device lifespans and reduce electronic waste.

2 investors

Flexi-Hex makes paper-based protective packaging built on a patented honeycomb technology, including open-ended sleeves and corner brackets designed to secure fragile products in transit. It serves businesses across sectors such as food and drink, electronics, and health and beauty as a plastic-free alternative to bubble wrap and pulp packaging.

2 investors

Foamplant develops and produces fully circular foam materials, marketed under its moorefoam® and growfoam® brands. Growfoam is offered as a growing substrate, indicating applications in horticulture alongside general foam material uses.

2 investors

Foeth sells pre-owned, refurbished process equipment to industrial customers in specialty chemicals, food, pharmaceuticals, and recycling sectors. The company stocks over 2,800 machines and operates as Europe's largest dealer of reconditioned industrial machinery.

2 investors

Foodsi is a mobile app that lets consumers buy surplus food and other products from restaurants, cafes, bakeries, florists, and shops at up to 70% off to prevent them from being wasted. Users order and pay in the app, then pick up the "surprise" packages of unsold or near-expiry items in person at the participating business.

2 investors

Footprint develops and manufactures plant-based fiber materials and packaging designed as alternatives to single-use plastic. It works with retailers, CPGs, and food companies to reduce emissions and waste through patented fiber technologies.

2 investors

For Them is a queer and trans-owned company that produces apparel, media, and experiences for the queer community, using sustainable materials and production methods. The company prioritizes community input in product design and celebrates queer creators and self-expression.

2 investors

Fortuna Cools makes insulation and cooler products from upcycled coconut husks as a replacement for plastic foam, working with coconut farming communities in the Philippines. It focuses on sustainable materials and human-centered product design.

2 investors

Freshr develops FreshrPack, a coating technology applied to food packaging that extends the shelf life of fresh animal-based protein by 15-30% without additives or changes to existing production lines. It serves food producers, retailers, and packaging companies aiming to reduce food waste across the supply chain.

2 investors

GaeaStar uses patented 3D printing (additive manufacturing) technology to make ultra-thin ceramic products from natural clay, starting with disposable cups intended to replace single-use plastics. It targets the food and beverage industry with plastic-free packaging for on-the-go use.

2 investors

Gavan develops advanced fat technologies from natural ingredients for food companies to create healthier and more sustainable products. The company operates with zero-waste production principles using only natural inputs like sunflower oil and pea protein.

2 investors

Gen Phoenix produces high-performance recycled materials, including recycled leather made from wet blue offcuts and post-industrial hide waste, for use in products such as footwear, aircraft seating, and consumer goods. The company supplies sustainable material alternatives to brands across industries including automotive, aviation, and fashion.

2 investors

Gone operates a circular supply chain service that picks up unwanted household goods and resells quality items through gone.com and partner consignment stores, sending the rest to recyclers. Its Secondhand Seattle offering aggregates pre-owned furniture from local sellers, serving consumers in the Seattle area.

2 investors

Graphyte develops Carbon Casting, a carbon dioxide removal method that dries and compresses biomass such as timber and crop residues into dense carbon blocks wrapped in an impermeable barrier and stores them in monitored underground sites. The company sells durable carbon removal to organizations pursuing low-carbon goals in the climate and carbon markets.

2 investors

Green Gravity develops, installs and operates gravitational energy storage systems that use disused mine shafts to provide long-duration energy storage. The company targets the renewable energy and mining sectors, positioning its technology as a low-cost, circular-economy alternative to chemical battery storage.

2 investors

Green Steel PSR™ is a patented, upcycled iron-rich additive made from a steel manufacturing byproduct that replaces conventional wastewater treatment chemicals like ferric and alum to control phosphorus and hydrogen sulfide in digesters. It serves municipal wastewater treatment plants, biogas/RNG producers, dairy farms, food processing plants, pulp and paper mills, and breweries seeking to cut chemical spend, reduce corrosion and scaling, and meet regulatory discharge limits.

2 investors

GreenLIB offers Refinement-as-a-Service (RaaS) for battery recycling, using thermal pre-treatment to upgrade contaminated black mass into clean, high-purity material and recover valuable metals such as nickel, cobalt, lithium, and graphite. It serves EV OEMs, battery manufacturers, shredders, MHP producers, and refiners through flexible material-return models with no CAPEX for the customer.

2 investors

GreenMantra uses a patented molecular recycling technology to convert waste plastic that would otherwise reach landfills and oceans into specialty polymer additives for industrial applications. Its products aim to improve operational efficiency, product performance, and lower carbon footprint for manufacturers.

2 investors

Gross-Wen Technologies (GWT) develops the patented RAB algae-based system to treat municipal and industrial wastewater, recovering nutrients from the water and recycling the nutrient-rich algae into slow-release fertilizer. The company serves municipal and industrial clients seeking sustainable wastewater treatment.

2 investors