Companies to Watch - April 18, 2019

Five Sustainability-Minded Companies to Watch

April 18, 2019 • Estimated Reading Time: 8 minutes

Five Sustainability-Minded Companies to Watch

Next week, we’ll celebrate Earth Day, and as the climate threats facing our city and country grow more urgent, the New York tech sector is reacting by building businesses that put sustainability at the center — and help other organizations of all kinds do the same.A budding component of our community includes new green tech, biotech, and life sciences startups — and together with the expansion of Alexandria’s biotech campus on the East Side, NYC’s $500 million investment in life sciences startups and incubator programs, and the expected passage of New York’s “own Green New Deal,” NYC is proving itself both a local and  global leader in sustainability. In honor of Earth Day — and the ways we can all support a healthy planet — here’s five New York companies that are building technology-forward solutions to transform agriculture, waste and recycling, and more. Get a taste of their work below, and read the whole post here. 

Industrial/Organic

What does your company do?Industrial/Organic co-founder and CEO Amanda Weeks: Industrial/Organic is reimagining what is possible with food waste. Our solution cycles nutrients back into products, allowing for full utilization of the components of wasted food. Our products — which range from personal care ingredients to livestock and poultry nutraceuticals — prove that food waste is a useful resource. Humans have been collecting and disposing of waste for thousands of years, and yet there have been relatively few advancements in waste management systems. Why do you think that is?AW: I think there are a number of reasons. Waste has traditionally been viewed as a costly problem (both economically and environmentally) rather than an opportunity. It’s a relatively capital intensive industry so has not been a prime target for venture capital. In addition, waste streams are regulated to ensure that they don’t harm the environment or human health, which has meant strict oversight and controls on the owners, transporters and processors of waste. Bowery Farming

What does your company do?Bowery co-founder and CEO Irving Fain: Bowery is the modern farming company growing food for a better future by revolutionizing agriculture. Bowery combines the benefits of the best local farms with advances made possible by technology to grow produce consumers can feel good about eating. BoweryOS, our proprietary software system, uses vision systems, automation technology, and machine learning to monitor plants and all the variables that drive their growth 24/7. Because we control the entire process from seed to store, Bowery farms use zero pesticides, 95% less water, and are 100+ times more productive on the same footprint of land than traditional agriculture.Part of Bowery’s mission is to democratize access to high-quality, fresh food. Where would you like to see the industry move in the next few years to help make that happen? How do you see Bowery playing a part?IF: There’s a clear need to improve upon the traditional agriculture industry, and I’d like to see locally grown, indoor-grown produce become more mainstream among retailers and consumers. For Bowery, this means continuing to provide produce more sustainably for urban populations, and we’re excited to have expanded our footprint in the tristate area significantly following the opening of our second farm this past fall. We recently teamed up with Peapod and soon AmazonFresh to expand access to our pesticide-free produce across all New York City boroughs, and our goal is to build Bowery farms in or near every major city in the world to address major global challenges around food supply, environmental degradation and food waste. 

HowGood

What does your company do?HowGood co-founder and CEO Alexander Gillett: HowGood is purpose-driven research company that powers sustainability solutions for brands, retailers, and consumers. We make it easier for consumers to get the real story behind their food and personal care, and for brands and retailers to make smart, sustainability-minded sourcing, processing, and business decisions.Often, we think about sustainability as being informed only by how food is grown. You underscore there is so much more to the equation. What are a few other practices that are important, but overlooked, when considering sustainability? AG: It’s important to keep the real meaning of “sustainable” in mind. I’ve always liked the UN’s definition, which is something that ‘meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.’ In that context, sustainability can apply to social issues, like labor risks involved with farm or factory work, just as easily as environmental. The health of our food system depends upon the individuals at the heart of it, so the way they’re treated is just as critical as the way our land is treated. 

The Wally Shop

What does your company do?The Wally Shop founder and CEO Tamara Lim: The Wally Shop is a Brooklyn-based zero waste grocery delivery service offering local farmers market and organic bulk ingredients in all reusable and returnable packaging.

You were conscientious to make sure sustainability was baked into your interactions with the consumer, and not an additional piece of friction. As a consumer yourself, where do you see this idea being applied next?TL: I don’t want The Wally Shop to be limited just to produce and bulk ingredients. My ultimate goal is to make every food possible available in reusable and returnable packaging. From condiments, to specialty ingredients, to beauty products, we’re hoping to normalize this “circular economy” and show people that making the sustainable choice doesn’t have to be a compromise. 

What does your company do?Recycle Track Systems co-founder and COO Adam Pasquale: Recycle Track Systems is a waste and recycling management company that focuses on technology and data to optimize waste operations and decrease the amount of waste going to landfills. We developed on-demand waste removal through our app — which has been referred to as the ‘Uber for Trash’, but we also provide full-service solutions leveraging our technology platform to support clients’ end-to-end waste operations. For example, we can pick-up food waste from a large restaurant and bring it straight to a farm where it is converted to compost, while providing real-time confirmation the material was collected and the amount that was recycled. As a fourth generation veteran in the waste industry around the New York area, how has the city shaped not only your view of running a tech company, but approaching waste management at large?AP: New York is an incredible place to tackle the challenges of the waste industry given its size and logistics. We knew if we could be successful in this market, we would be able to scale effectively. There are also very few cities in the country that have a concentration of companies across a variety of industries that are all looking to achieve greater sustainability goals and adopt emerging technology.Join Us

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