Green Startup for Sustainable Recovery

Green startups start with innovating production lines and continue with nurturing a culture of life cycle thinking that has sustainable development at its core. Green startups are commonly considered as a tool that could boost socio-economic recovery and sustainability while strengthening the economic immunity of small and large communities. Consequently, decision-makers and entrepreneurs around the world are thinking more than ever about climate-friendly ways to cope with the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Green growth has been an essential goal among green entrepreneurs for many years, but now even governments and official authorities are showing support for climate-friendly recovery. Green startups like another type of startup are relying on their savings during the health crisis. Even though policymakers regard them as great and helpful, they need to do more in terms of providing financial support and concrete policies.

The coronavirus outbreak pointed out that it’s not possible to have economic stability without climate stability.
Speaking about the connections between the COVID-19 and the climate crises, Lise Kingo, the executive director of the UN Global Compact, said for the Guardian that the overall problem is that we are not sustainable in the ways we are living and producing on the planet today and the only way forward is by creating a world that leaves no one behind. She also highlighted that young people are highly committed to the 2030 Agenda.
This means that the new generations of employees will consider the social and environmental strategies of companies where they are going to work.
Thus, companies must consider their responsibility strategies to attract potential employees and to retain customers. On their part, young people are trying to create enterprises that drive sustainable economic development.

What’s a green startup?

Green entrepreneurs, no matter their age, can recognize and seize an opportunity and turn it into a profitable business. What they do is to focus on innovating existing producing processes or their products and services. Therefore, they can reduce the environmental impact of their production process as well as that of customers that will use their services and goods.

Green entrepreneurship has many social and economic advantages.
It creates new jobs, thus helps reducing unemployment among young people. Such businesses can also be an employment solution for people that were laid off during the COVID-19 lockdowns.
Green enterprises are not limited only to developed and urban areas. They can be created anywhere where people use resources to make products or services that are sold.
Green startups create green jobs, which UNEP defines as positions in agriculture, manufacturing, R&D, administrative, and service activities aimed at substantially preserving or restoring environmental quality. This category of jobs includes those that:
minimize waste, pollution, and contamination,
limit greenhouse gas emissions,
increase efficient consumption,
protect biodiversity and restore ecosystems
contribute to the adaption to climate change
Energy is a major sector where green startups are thriving. Hundreds of new solutions are needed and can be applied to decarbonize economic sectors in all types of socio-economic contexts.
Moreover, potential sectors where green startups are growing include agriculture, transport, infrastructure, tourism, design, architecture, etc.

Green startups deal with issues that require immediate solutions and they encourage a culture of entrepreneurship. What type of qualification is required to start a green business? It depends on what you can do better. But if you want to complement your skills and knowledge with an entrepreneurial mindset, you can take advantage of our free online training. You will also have the opportunity to become part of a network of entrepreneurs, young or experienced, who can help you create business ideas and make them work.

If you already have an idea or project that contributes to sustainable development you can join the Citizen Entrepreneurship Competition.