How Amazon is Powering Sustainable Solutions
Nine out of 10 CEOs believe that insufficient technology is at the root of challenges in establishing business resilience, as highlighted by a study led by Accenture.
This is a pertinent point for procurement leaders who constantly seek effective systems to enhance supply chain resilience.
The World Economic Forum emphasises that start-ups hold the key to optimising the material life cycle and creating sustainable, waste-reducing supply chains.
This presents procurement executives with an opportunity to partner with innovative companies that align with sustainability objectives.
Amazon has unveiled its 2025 Climate Tech cohort of the Amazon Sustainability Accelerator, aiming to advance product development in sustainable solutions.
The move offers procurement leaders invaluable insights and partnership prospects with cutting-edge tech firms focusing on sustainable solutions.
Amazon's climate tech cohort
Among a pool of 550 applicants, Amazon selected 11 companies to join this year's climate tech cohort.
These companies now have the opportunity to pilot technologies within Amazon's European operations, providing a concrete testing ground for the latest innovations in sustainability.
The cohort began in 2022 and now includes climate tech firms producing products designed to combat climate change–critical information for procurement chiefs looking to integrate sustainability into their supply chains.
Amazon will equip these companies with four weeks of experiential workshops, mentoring and leadership panels, all geared towards tackling environmental challenges such as energy efficiency, waste reduction and water management.
"What stands out about this cohort is their combination of technological innovation and practical applicability," says Olivier Pellegrini, European Director of Sustainability and Packaging Operations at Amazon.
"These founders are developing technologies that have real potential for implementation within our operations and could be truly transformative at scale."
Procurement and the path to sustainability through Amazon's initiative
Through its initiative, Amazon aims to empower entrepreneurs to launch sustainable products, services and technologies.
This aligns perfectly with the procurement sector's goals of sustainable purchasing and innovative sourcing practices.
By sharing its expertise with small businesses, Amazon seeks to expedite the deployment and adoption of technologies that foster a sustainable future, a model which procurement executives can emulate in their own strategic planning endeavours.
Amazon collaborates with industry specialists such as EIT Climate-KIC, Founders Intelligence and Growth Studio, connecting start-up businesses with trailblazers through events like Mentor Day and Demo Day–valuable platforms for procurement leaders focused on sustainable development.
In 2024, Amazon invested US$881,000 to pilot five technologies from the cohort, underscoring its commitment and providing potential procurement opportunities for businesses aligned with Amazon's sustainability objectives.
"We're excited to continue our collaboration with Amazon's Sustainability Accelerator for the 2025 Climate Tech Challenge," adds Livia Solustri, Strategy Lead at Founders Intelligence.
"Last year's programme illustrated the impact of connecting innovative start-ups and scale-ups with Amazon's operational expertise.
"We're proud to play a role in identifying and supporting companies that can drive meaningful environmental change while delivering operational efficiency at scale."
Insights for procurement from selected companies
With the selection of 11 companies, Amazon seeks to enhance innovations and create more sustainable solutions.
These companies, including Vuala, Solaq and Omniflow, offer technologies that procurement leaders globally can look to when sourcing the next sustainable and efficient solutions.
Vuala has developed an 'artificial stomach' for food waste separation, a technology pertinent to procurement specialists seeking waste management solutions.
Abiel Ma, Vuala’s CEO and Co-Founder, says: "Traditional food waste management relies on centralised treatment, often fraught with odours and contamination issues... Our 'artificial stomach' changes frontline behaviour to power a circular economy."
Solaq has invested in technology to address the growing concern of water scarcity around the world.
The innovation works by extracting water from the air, providing sustainable, reliable, safe and affordable access to drinking water.
It will be powered using solar and will not be reliant on the grid, aiming to have 24/7 production.
Omniflow is aiming to power cities using solar and wind power.
Although providing several sustainable solutions Amazon has picked out it’s streetlight innovation that uses 90% less energy compared to conventional street lights.
The technology includes air quality monitoring, EV charging, 5g connectivity and works through motion sensors, dimming if no activity is detected.
Mhor energy has developed a flow battery that stores energy in liquid form.
The innovation doesn’t use corrosive electrolytes so can be deployed into highly populated areas, offering a 25 year life span.
The battery is also manufactured to withstand heat than regular batteries, allowing more power more consistently.
Jamie Lindsay, CEO and Founder of Mhor Energy says: "Our journey began with a simple frustration over the lack of innovation in heating systems.
"This led us to develop a system that uses environmentally friendly liquids to store electricity.
“By creating a heat-resistant, non-flammable solution, we're helping industries transition to renewable energy while significantly reducing their operational costs and environmental impact."
