Amazon has unveiled what it is calling the “next wave of UK climate innovation” as part of its annual Amazon Sustainability Accelerator programme.
Three British companies will now receive four weeks of intensive expert-led workshops, mentoring, and leadership panels, related to Amazon’s initiative which seeks to find organisations that can help drive progress in sustainability. Another eight global businesses have been selected in the cohort of 11, selected from more than 550 applications this year.
UK climate innovation
The trio of UK retailers in this year’s accelerator are, as follows (in Amazon’s own words):
Mhor Energy – the team at Mhor has developed an innovative flow battery that stores energy in liquid form. It’s similar to a rechargeable battery but at a much larger scale and with an estimated lifespan of 20 to 25 years. It works efficiently even in high temperatures without needing cooling systems, making it particularly well-suited for facilities that are powered by solar energy and require a continuous energy supply.
Greyparrot – the business has developed computer vision systems that observe waste conveyor belts, identifying and categorising materials in real-time. Their artificial intelligence (AI) can recognise more than 110 different types of waste, from common recyclables to complex composites.
Vuala – a business that has developed a bio-mechanical “artificial stomach” that uses specialised microorganisms to process mixed food waste at customer locations. Their technology breaks food waste down into an odourless form that can be stored for up to a month. The processed waste then becomes raw material for biogas and hydrogen production, turning a disposal problem into a renewable energy opportunity.
Abiel Ma, Vuala’s CEO & co-founder, said: “Traditional food waste management relies on hauling waste to centralised treatment, often has problems of odours, pests, contamination, poor recycling, and little data for improvement.
“Our data-driven ‘artificial stomach’ automatically separates food waste at source, converting it into raw material for renewable energy while driving frontline behaviour change and incentivising organisations to power a circular economy.”
Amazon invested a total of £650,000 across five pilots from last year’s cohort. One 2024 pilot, with UK-based HT Materials Science, demonstrated measurable cooling and heating energy savings across three Amazon fulfilment centres in Coventry, Daventry, and Doncaster. Amazon is now assessing which additional facilities in its network could benefit from implementing this tech.
The Amazon Sustainability Accelerator is supported by Founders Intelligence, part of Accenture. Including this year’s cohort, the programme has supported 70 companies across six cohorts.
International climate innovation
Stand-out technologies from the wider international cohort include ultra-thin solar sheets that use up to 90% less material than conventional panels, a system that transforms atmospheric moisture into drinking water without harmful chemicals, and air conditioners that separate temperature and humidity control to slash energy consumption by up to 90%.
The international cohort selected for this year are, as follows (in Amazon’s words):
Cartesian (Norway) – has developed a thermal battery that stores heat or cold in materials that can change their physical state (like how ice can turn to water). The system stores energy when it is cheap and abundant, releasing it during peak demand hours to reduce pressure on the power grid.
Over Easy Solar (Norway) – has developed a lightweight solar system that stands vertically instead of lying flat. Their prefabricated units weigh just 11 kg per square meter – about half the weight of conventional panels. This makes solar power possible for buildings that previously could not support traditional installations.
Active Surfaces (US) – has developed ultra-thin, flexible solar sheets. These pliable sheets use a material called perovskite, which use 10 times less material than traditional solar panels while maintaining comparable efficiency. They can be installed using adhesive, reducing installation time.
Omniflow (Portugal) – uses wind and solar power to create streetlights that use 90% less energy compared to conventional examples. The posts include motion sensors that automatically dim lights when no activity is detected and can support smart city applications including air quality monitoring, EV charging, and 5G connectivity.
Blue Frontier (US) – its air conditioners use a liquid desiccant technology that separately manages temperature and humidity, unlike traditional air conditioners that cool and dehumidify air in a single process. This has the potential to reduce energy consumption by up to 90% and includes built-in thermal energy storage that allows the system to run for four to six hours without drawing power from the grid.
Shayp (Belgium) – helps buildings reduce water leaks through innovative monitoring that measures ‘the pulse’ of pipelines. By connecting to existing water meters and using artificial intelligence, the system identifies issues that often go unnoticed. It has already saved more than 21 billion litres of water and typically helps buildings reduce their water consumption by up to 20%.
Solaq (Netherlands) – using a specialised absorption process, this Dutch start-up transforms atmospheric moisture into drinking water– even in areas with low humidity. Their system, housed in standard shipping containers for easy installation, can produce up to 5,000 litres of pure water per day without using harmful chemicals.
NANDO (Italy) – transforms regular waste bins into intelligent waste monitoring stations. An app tracks small bins, sensors track large containers, and AI-powered cameras analyse waste in real-time. The system can recognise more than 70 types of waste, helping waste facility managers identify incorrect sorting and contamination immediately.
Olivier Pellegrini, European director of sustainability & packaging operations at Amazon, said: “What stands out about this cohort is their combination of technological innovation and practical applicability.
“These founders are developing technologies that have real potential for implementation within our operations and could be truly transformative at scale. Their approach connects well with Amazon’s own culture of innovation and sustainability goals.”
Livia Solustri, strategy lead at Founders Intelligence, commented: “We’re excited to continue our collaboration with Amazon’s Sustainability Accelerator for the 2025 Climate Tech Challenge.
“Last year’s programme demonstrated 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.”
[image credit: Green Retail World]
