Green Challenge Contenders

Postcode Lotteries Green Challenge has announced five British start-ups have been shortlisted to go to the next stage of the global sustainable business competition, which has a total prize pot of €1 Million.

The five companies beat off tough competition from 200 entries to make it into the top 25 from round the world. The British Green Challenge contenders are:

• Xampla which produces plastic-alternatives from pea protein.
• Desolenator which creates clean drinking water from a solar-powered machine.
• Polipop which is developing the market's first completely flushable and bio-degradable sanitary products.
• Mimica which has produced technology to indicate food freshness without using dates.
• Chip[s] Board which creates new material from food waste.

Postcode Lotteries Green Challenge is run by People's Postcode Lottery and its sister lotteries in the Netherlands, Germany, Sweden and Norway. The international competition supports businesses tackling environmental issues. 

Green Challenge has prizes of €500,000 for the winner, €200,000 for the runner up, and €100,000 for each of three other finalists. All finalists will also receive expert coaching to support development of their business idea.

The top five British entries were chosen by a panel of experts in the UK and now go forward to an international panel. They will choose the five global finalists who will pitch their ideas in Amsterdam in October.

Laura Chow, Head of Charities at People's Postcode Lottery and Chair of the British judging panel, said, "The judges and I have been so inspired and impressed with all of the applications - the standard has been exceptional, with such a broad range of entrepreneurial and transformational ideas being brought to the table. It's clear that business plays a key role in tackling the serious environmental issues that the world is facing and it's really exciting to see that so many young people are getting into this space."

Find out more about the entrants on the Green Challenge website.

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