10 Sustainable Startups to Watch Out For in 2021

1. Cover: Founded by Alexis Rivas and Jemuel Joseph in 2014, Cover is revolutionizing the 100-year-old conventional home-building system. Cover designs, engineers, manufactures, and installs backyard studios using their unique LEGO-like building blocks. The company started by making a very simple observation: almost every object in our lives is made efficiently in a factory. So… why not construction? As Cover shares on their website, most homes are still built on-site, piece by piece, through a fragmented process requiring architects, engineers, consultants, material suppliers, general contractors, and subcontractors such as electricians, plumbers, framers, kitchen installers, and painters. Cover says no more to this old-fashioned system; their cutting-edge technology saves you the time, money, and headaches that come from outdated construction. And I could not be more on board! I’ve followed Cover’s journey for over a year now, and love watching them grow. They’re currently serving the Los Angeles area with backyard studios. Visit them here.
2. Noissue: Noissue is a New Zealand-based company, set to provide makers, brands, and businesses of all sizes access to custom, sustainable packaging. All of their products are 100% compostable, recycled, and reused, and they provide a simple online design platform. Noissue doesn’t force small businesses to make compromises on sustainability efforts — they’re most distinct marker is low minimum order quantities. There’s also no compromising on stunning and customizable designs. They’ve made the design process user-friendly, and so aesthetically satisfying. Visit their website here.
3. The Hemp Plastic Company: Founded in 2018, The Hemp Plastic Company is on a mission to shake up the plastics industry, with their unique hemp plastic alternatives. THPC works directly with customers to design, manufacture, and distribute premium earth-friendly polymers. Tackling the issue of sustainability from the sourcing side solves a huge problem many entrepreneurs face; wanting to do good but not having access to eco-friendly pre-production materials. By providing pre-production pellets THPC is giving companies a convenient way to produce the goods they want and potentially have, just now with environmentally conscious materials. You can find them here.
4. TALA: TALA self-describes as “the brand you always knew you wanted but could never quite find. Affordable, sustainable styles without the need to compromise on high-performance pieces and flattering fits.” And I could not agree more. TALA works with clever materials like Q-Nova (regenerated raw materials) and Recovertex (rescuing plastic bottles from oceans and landfill and turning them into your new sustainable wears) and even provides super cute plantable clothing tags and 100% recycled and recyclable packaging. Not to mention, brilliant Founder and CEO Grace Beverly is complete and utter goals. Visit their website here.
5. AMP Robotics: Get ready to geek out about this one. The folks over at AMP Robotics are reimagining and actively modernizing the world’s recycling infrastructure. By applying AI and robotics to economically recover commodities reclaimed as raw materials for the global supply chain, AMP Robotics has tackled the large task of revamping the faulty recycling system. They’re solving the central challenges of recycling and shifts in the economics of the industry to make it more efficient, cost-effective, scalable, and sustainable. When I think of the future, this is exactly what I envision. With a failing waste disposal system plaguing many countries, the promise of AMP Robotics is bright. Visit them here.
6. Facedrive: Watch out Uber and Lyft, Facedrive is changing the rideshare model! Facedrive is the first emissions neutral ride-sharing platform. Headquartered in Ontario, Canada, Facedrive is changing the ride-sharing, food delivery, e-commerce, and health tech narrative by offering socially-responsible, green transportation and services to local communities with a strong commitment to doing business fairly, equitably, and sustainably. Riders can choose between an electric, hybrid, or gas vehicle for ride-sharing, food delivery, electric car subscriptions, and more. Facedrive is the quintessential eco-startup — pushing the envelope, forcing the rest of the world to catch up. I’m eager to see their global impact. You can visit their website here.
7. Hempitecture: Founders Mattie Mead and Tommy Gibbons started Hempitecture to rid the indoors of synthetic and toxic building materials. Hempitecture seeks to “create habitats that reflect and remind us of our natural world, not set us apart from it.” What better way to make that dream a reality than by providing HempWool and Hempcrete? HempWool is an insulation building material that is good for you and our planet which outperforms toxic competitors and is made from 92% industrial hemp fiber. Hempcrete is a hemp-based, cost-saving, fireproof concrete alternative. Hempitecture works with architects, builders, engineers, and developers to build energy-efficient, non-toxic, and carbon-absorbing environments. Find them here.
8. LastObject: Female Founder Isabel Aagaard created LastObject to eliminate single-use items by creating reusable sustainable alternatives. The company’s values include creating products that have at least 10x real environmental impact vs the traditional single-use products they replace. They’ve launched LastSwab (a reusable cotton-swab alternative), LastTissue (facial tissue alternative), and LastRound (cotton round alternative). From what I’ve seen of LastObject’s team, they genuinely embody building a company from the inside out by building a team of impassioned and innovative individuals. Visit their website here.
9. Power Ledger: With Power Ledger, you’re able to monetize your energy. Yes, folks, your energy. While we’re not quite at monetizing mental energy, I promise Power Ledger is still worth the excitement. Power Ledger has developed software that allows consumers and producers to track, trace, and trade every kind of kilowatt. Wherever it is and whatever it is. PowerLedger is dedicated to empowering individuals and communities to co-create their energy future and develop a power system that is resilient, low-cost, zero-carbon, and owned by the people of the world. Their mission is to provide the platform for this market and in the process, bring on the democratization of power. Visit them here.
10. Sunday: And last, but certainly not least, Sunday, a smart lawn subscription service. Sunday may just be exactly what you didn’t know you needed. Sunday is here to maintain your lawn, all while using nontoxic ingredients like seaweed and molasses. Frank Rossi, Sunday’s Chief Science Officer, has a PhD in turf science (the more you know), and lives and breathes turfgrass. Every Sunday Smart Lawn Plan is based on your soil, climate, and lawn. Considering every aspect of clean, sustainable practice is crucial to making this movement a success — even lawn maintenance. While the majority of the focus in sustainable retail is food and body care, Sunday is uniquely ensuring that your environment is non-toxic and sustainable. You can find them here.

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