2026-09-23
New EmpCo Rules: Sustainability Claims Must Be Substantiated – New Startup Cohort Brings New Solutions into Practice |
The world map shows where the Batch 11 startups come from.
Source: Circular Valley
Source: Circular Valley
15 startups from 12 countries are joining the new funding round of the Circular Economy Accelerator. Their business models demonstrate how sustainability goals can be translated into concrete technologies and industrial solutions.
From September 27, new rules governing environmental and sustainability claims will apply in Germany and Europe. With the implementation of the European EmpCo Directive, the requirements for advertising environmental benefits will become significantly stricter. Broad or unsubstantiated claims about environmental friendliness, sustainability, or climate impact may no longer be permissible. Companies will need to pay closer attention to ensuring that their claims are clear, specific, and supported by evidence.
For Circular Valley, this is more than a regulatory change: it reflects a principle that the network has been working by for years. Sustainability should not stop at declarations of intent and discussion rounds, but should be demonstrated through concrete solutions and viable business models. This is precisely what the new, eleventh funding round of the Circular Economy Accelerator stands for.
“Sustainability cannot be an empty promise. The new rules provide greater clarity: if you make claims about environmental benefits, you also need to be able to substantiate them. From the very beginning, Circular Valley has not just been about talking about the circular economy. We bring together companies that are developing concrete solutions and want to bring them into industrial practice,” says Dr. Carsten Gerhardt, Chairman of the Circular Valley Foundation.
15 Startups from 12 Countries
The participants come from different parts of the world and are working on solutions to key challenges in the circular economy. Their work includes new materials, the recovery of critical raw materials, water reuse, circular packaging, sustainable textile production, and digital infrastructure for circular business models.
The range of approaches demonstrates just how diverse the circular economy has become: Airee from Mongolia is developing biodegradable air filters made from traceable Mongolian sheep wool. Axiv Materials from Israel transforms keratin from agricultural waste into a biopolymer material that can be further processed into fibers, films, foams, and gels. CHAiNT Afrique from Ghana aims to collect and recycle discarded fishing nets and use the recovered material to produce new fishing nets – reducing marine pollution while keeping valuable materials in circulation.
CircleCube from Germany is developing open, automated return stations for reusable packaging, creating infrastructure for circular packaging systems. Earth Tech Materials from the United States transforms mining waste and mineral residues into materials for lower-carbon cement and concrete. kolula solutions from Germany is developing a digital platform that makes spaces, lockers, and rental equipment continuously bookable and accessible, enabling them to be used more effectively for sharing and reuse models.
Other startups are focusing on water, raw materials, and industrial processes. Lambert Technovation from India is developing electrochemical processes for rapid wastewater treatment and water reuse. LipiTune from Germany uses precision fermentation to produce consistent plant-based oils from alternative carbon sources. N&E Innovations from Singapore develops materials derived from food waste for compostable packaging designed to extend the shelf life of food.
NANO ALPHA from Germany is working on the recovery of critical materials from production waste generated by the semiconductor industry. Olexir from Switzerland develops stable oleogels based on plant-based oils and proteins. PigmentOCO from Tunisia is developing a process for waterless cotton dyeing and more sustainable denim finishing using supercritical CO₂.
The recovery and reuse of materials from existing waste streams is another key focus of the new cohort. Remind from Indonesia combines digital collection infrastructure for electronic waste with processes for recovering critical metals and returning them to the supply chain. UsedFULLY from New Zealand processes textile waste into industrial additives that can be used, among other applications, in construction, road building, and coatings. Without from India is developing a process that converts hard-to-recycle multilayer plastics and contaminated textiles into high-quality engineering materials.
From Ambition to Implementation
The new batch exemplifies a broader shift that is also reflected in regulation: sustainability is increasingly expected to be demonstrated rather than simply claimed. For companies, this means higher requirements for how they communicate their sustainability efforts – while at the same time increasing the need for technologies and business models that can genuinely reduce resource consumption, recover valuable materials, and keep them in circulation.
This is exactly where the Circular Economy Accelerator comes in. During their time in the Rhine-Ruhr region, the startups work with experts from industry, academia, and business to further develop their business models, refine their pitches, and establish connections with potential partners and investors.
A highlight of every funding round is the Demo Day, held as part of the Circular Valley Forum on November 13, 2026. At the event, the startups will present their solutions to representatives from industry, academia, politics, and the investment community.
“The EmpCo Directive makes clear how important credible and verifiable sustainability has become. Our approach is very simple: we do not just want to talk about the circular economy; we want to support those who are developing and implementing concrete solutions,” says Dr. Carsten Gerhardt.
An overview of all startups participating in the 11th batch can be found here: circular-valley.org/batch11
For Circular Valley, this is more than a regulatory change: it reflects a principle that the network has been working by for years. Sustainability should not stop at declarations of intent and discussion rounds, but should be demonstrated through concrete solutions and viable business models. This is precisely what the new, eleventh funding round of the Circular Economy Accelerator stands for.
“Sustainability cannot be an empty promise. The new rules provide greater clarity: if you make claims about environmental benefits, you also need to be able to substantiate them. From the very beginning, Circular Valley has not just been about talking about the circular economy. We bring together companies that are developing concrete solutions and want to bring them into industrial practice,” says Dr. Carsten Gerhardt, Chairman of the Circular Valley Foundation.
15 Startups from 12 Countries
The participants come from different parts of the world and are working on solutions to key challenges in the circular economy. Their work includes new materials, the recovery of critical raw materials, water reuse, circular packaging, sustainable textile production, and digital infrastructure for circular business models.
The range of approaches demonstrates just how diverse the circular economy has become: Airee from Mongolia is developing biodegradable air filters made from traceable Mongolian sheep wool. Axiv Materials from Israel transforms keratin from agricultural waste into a biopolymer material that can be further processed into fibers, films, foams, and gels. CHAiNT Afrique from Ghana aims to collect and recycle discarded fishing nets and use the recovered material to produce new fishing nets – reducing marine pollution while keeping valuable materials in circulation.
CircleCube from Germany is developing open, automated return stations for reusable packaging, creating infrastructure for circular packaging systems. Earth Tech Materials from the United States transforms mining waste and mineral residues into materials for lower-carbon cement and concrete. kolula solutions from Germany is developing a digital platform that makes spaces, lockers, and rental equipment continuously bookable and accessible, enabling them to be used more effectively for sharing and reuse models.
Other startups are focusing on water, raw materials, and industrial processes. Lambert Technovation from India is developing electrochemical processes for rapid wastewater treatment and water reuse. LipiTune from Germany uses precision fermentation to produce consistent plant-based oils from alternative carbon sources. N&E Innovations from Singapore develops materials derived from food waste for compostable packaging designed to extend the shelf life of food.
NANO ALPHA from Germany is working on the recovery of critical materials from production waste generated by the semiconductor industry. Olexir from Switzerland develops stable oleogels based on plant-based oils and proteins. PigmentOCO from Tunisia is developing a process for waterless cotton dyeing and more sustainable denim finishing using supercritical CO₂.
The recovery and reuse of materials from existing waste streams is another key focus of the new cohort. Remind from Indonesia combines digital collection infrastructure for electronic waste with processes for recovering critical metals and returning them to the supply chain. UsedFULLY from New Zealand processes textile waste into industrial additives that can be used, among other applications, in construction, road building, and coatings. Without from India is developing a process that converts hard-to-recycle multilayer plastics and contaminated textiles into high-quality engineering materials.
From Ambition to Implementation
The new batch exemplifies a broader shift that is also reflected in regulation: sustainability is increasingly expected to be demonstrated rather than simply claimed. For companies, this means higher requirements for how they communicate their sustainability efforts – while at the same time increasing the need for technologies and business models that can genuinely reduce resource consumption, recover valuable materials, and keep them in circulation.
This is exactly where the Circular Economy Accelerator comes in. During their time in the Rhine-Ruhr region, the startups work with experts from industry, academia, and business to further develop their business models, refine their pitches, and establish connections with potential partners and investors.
A highlight of every funding round is the Demo Day, held as part of the Circular Valley Forum on November 13, 2026. At the event, the startups will present their solutions to representatives from industry, academia, politics, and the investment community.
“The EmpCo Directive makes clear how important credible and verifiable sustainability has become. Our approach is very simple: we do not just want to talk about the circular economy; we want to support those who are developing and implementing concrete solutions,” says Dr. Carsten Gerhardt.
An overview of all startups participating in the 11th batch can be found here: circular-valley.org/batch11
If you have any questions or interview requests, please contact us by e-mail at press@circular-valley.org
The image may be used free of charge for reporting purposes, provided you cite the source.
The image may be used free of charge for reporting purposes, provided you cite the source.
The non-profit Circular Valley Foundation brings together the relevant stakeholders. Across industries and technologies, companies, startups, academia, and policymakers are working together to develop solutions for the transformation to a true circular economy. Public relations, the world's first circular economy accelerator, and policy recommendations are the foundation's main areas of focus.
