The 2024 Sustainability Outlook examines the latest trends and innovations in sustainable practices, including agriculture, carbon reduction, and the circular economy. It provides insights into industry growth, regulations, and future trends, offering valuable information and insights into emerging sustainable solutions.
This sustainability outlook serves as a reference for stakeholders within the industry, investors, policymakers, and economic analysts, providing a snapshot of the industry’s health to map its trajectory for innovation and growth in the coming years.
StartUs Insights Sustainability Industry Report 2024
- Executive Summary
- Introduction to the Sustainability Report 2024
- What data is used in this Sustainability Industry Report?
- Snapshot of the Global Sustainability Industry
- Funding Landscape in the Sustainability Industry
- Who is Investing in Sustainability Solutions?
- Emerging Trends in Sustainability
- 5 Innovative Sustainability Startups
Executive Summary: Sustainability Outlook 2024
This report is created using data obtained from the Big Data and AI-powered StartUs Insights Discovery Platform, covering more than 4.7 million global companies, as well as 20K+ technologies and emerging trends. We also analyzed a sample of 6460+ sustainability startups developing innovative solutions to present five examples from emerging sustainability trends.
- Industry Growth: The report highlights a sector slightly stagnating with an annual growth rate of -3.08%, despite numerous emerging innovations in carbon emissions reduction and circular economy practices.
- Manpower & Employment: The global workforce in sustainability stands at 57 million, with 2.8 million employees joining last year, showcasing robust job growth.
- Patents & Grants: The industry benefits from over 629000 patents and 46500+ grants supporting research and development efforts.
- Global Footprint: The top country hubs are the USA, UK, India, Germany, and Canada, while London, New York City, Sydney, Melbourne, and Singapore lead as key city hubs.
- Investment Landscape: Investment activity is strong with an average investment value of USD 55 million per round, involving over 21000 investors and 99000 funding rounds closed.
- Top Investors: Leading investors such as International Finance, European Investment Bank, and Warburg Pincus have collectively invested more than USD 20 billion.
- Startup Ecosystem: Five innovative startups featured in this report include NovoCycle Technologies (Li-ion battery recycling), Corio Generation (offshore wind energy), Seprify (cellulose-based materials), EnvironAlgae (algae-based wastewater treatment), and evroc (green data center).
- Recommendations for Stakeholders: Investors should fund companies with scalable and impactful sustainable solutions across industries, emphasizing long-term growth. Entrepreneurs should focus on developing technologies that address key environmental challenges—from decarbonization to carbon capture. Governments need to create supportive policies and incentives to foster sustainable practices and investments. Cross-collaboration holds the key to unlocking large-scale global sustainability adoption.
Explore the Data-driven Sustainability Outlook for 2024
The 2024 Sustainability Outlook uses data from the Discovery Platform and encapsulates the key metrics that underline the sector’s dynamic growth and innovation.
The database features 6469 startups among over 452000 companies, highlighting significant activity in the sector. Despite a slight industry growth decline of -3.08% last year, innovation remains robust with over 629000 registered patents. Additionally, the industry benefits from 46500+ grants supporting research and development efforts.
The global workforce in sustainability stands at 57 million, with an impressive addition of 2.8 million employees in the last year. The top country hubs are the USA, UK, India, Germany, and Canada, while London, New York City, Sydney, Melbourne, and Singapore lead as key city hubs. This heatmap emphasizes the industry’s dynamic regions, showcasing key centers of startup activity and innovation.
What data is used to create this sustainability report?
Based on the data provided by our Discovery Platform, we observe that the sustainability industry ranks among the top 5% in the following categories relative to all 20K topics in our database. These categories provide a comprehensive overview of the industry’s key metrics and inform the short-term future direction of the industry.
- The industry received significant news coverage, with over 1.4 million publications last year.
- There were over 99,000 funding rounds recorded in our database, indicating strong investor interest and financial support.
- The industry employs over 42 million workers, adding more than 2.3 million new employees in the past year.
- It holds over 1 million patents, showcasing continuous innovation and technological advancement.
- The industry received over 41000 grants, underscoring the significant research and development investments.
- Global search growth for the industry increased by 14.18% yearly, reflecting rising consumer interest.
- and more. Get in touch to explore all data points used to create this sustainability market report.
A Snapshot of the Global Sustainability Industry
The sustainability industry has demonstrated considerable growth and investment, reflected in several key data points. Employee growth in the last year alone was 2.3 million, highlighting the sector’s rapid expansion and the increasing demand for sustainable solutions. With over 452000 companies operating within the industry, the landscape is diverse and competitive, driving innovation and development.
Explore the Funding Landscape of the Sustainability Industry
Investors are actively pouring money into the sustainability sector, with an average of USD 55 million invested per funding round. Over 21000 investors are participating, demonstrating strong confidence in the market’s potential.
This substantial financial support has reached 34500+ companies, highlighting the widespread belief in the sector’s ability to innovate and create a positive impact. With this strong backing, the sustainability industry is driving continued growth and global influence.
Who is Investing in Sustainability Solutions?
The sustainability industry has attracted significant investment from leading financial institutions and funds. The combined value invested by the top investors amounts to more than USD 20 billion. Below are the top investors and their contributions:
- International Finance Corporation: Invested USD 5.2 billion across 61 companies.
- European Investment Bank: Supported 69 companies with USD 4.1 billion.
- European Bank for Reconstruction & Development: Allocated USD 2.5 billion to 53 companies.
- Warburg Pincus: Invested USD 1.9 billion in 26 companies.
- SoftBank Vision Fund: Committed USD 1.5 billion to 11 companies.
- Temasek: Distributed USD 1.5 billion across 18 companies.
- Scotiabank: Invested USD 1.4 billion in 15 companies.
- JP Morgan: Supported 16 companies with USD 1.4 billion.
- and more. Contact us to explore all investment data in this field.
These investments illustrate a robust financial foundation for the sustainability industry, fostering innovation and expansion. The involvement of such prominent investors underscores the industry’s promising future and the confidence in its ongoing development.
Access Top Sustainability Innovations & Trends with the Discovery Platform
The Sustainable Agriculture sector is expanding, with 2799 companies employing 194K people. Last year, the sector added 16000 new jobs, and its 8.40% annual growth rate highlights the increasing adoption of sustainable farming methods. Companies in this space are actively developing innovative solutions that improve productivity while reducing environmental impact.
The Carbon Emissions Reduction sector is booming, with 5343 companies employing 430K+ people. Last year, the sector added 37000 new jobs, and its 7.74% annual growth rate demonstrates the increasing global commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Companies in this sector are developing cutting-edge technologies and implementing innovative practices to address climate change.
The Circular Economy is experiencing a rapid expansion, with 18300 companies employing 1.6 million people. Last year, the sector created 100K new jobs, and its 10.41% annual growth rate underscores the increasing focus on sustainability and resource efficiency. Companies in this sector are at the forefront of efforts to reduce waste, recycle materials, and establish closed-loop systems, contributing to both environmental protection and economic growth.
5 Top Examples from 6460+ Innovative Sustainability Startups
The five innovative startups showcased below are picked based on data including the trend they operate within and their relevance, founding year, funding status, and more. Book a platform demo to find promising startups, emerging trends, or industry data specific to your company’s needs and objectives.
Novocycle Technologies specializes in Li-ion Battery Recycling
NovoCycle Technologies specializes in advanced lithium-ion battery recycling solutions for the sustainability industry. Its innovative platform efficiently extracts valuable materials from spent batteries, reducing environmental impact. The technology employs a proprietary process to separate and purify metals like lithium, cobalt, and nickel. This method ensures high recovery rates and minimal waste generation, enhancing resource efficiency. NovoCycle’s solution supports a circular economy by enabling the reuse of critical materials in new batteries.
Corio Generation advances Offshore Wind Energy Generation
Corio Generation specializes in offshore wind energy technology for sustainable power solutions. The company’s advanced platforms harness wind power from offshore sites, providing a reliable renewable energy source. Its technology includes turbines designed for high efficiency and durability in harsh marine environments. Corio Generation’s projects feature monitoring systems to optimize performance and maintenance. The scalable design of their wind farms allows for significant energy output, supporting large-scale power needs.
Seprify develops Cellulose-based Materials
Seprify develops innovative solutions for the sustainability industry using cellulose-based materials. Its platform leverages advanced technology to create environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional plastics. These cellulose-based materials offer high performance and biodegradability, reducing environmental impact. The company’s products support various applications, including packaging, textiles, and coatings, promoting sustainable practices across industries. Seprify’s technology ensures these materials maintain strength and flexibility while being compostable.
Environalgae enables Algae-based Wastewater Treatment
EnvironAlgae offers innovative algae-based solutions for wastewater treatment for cities. The company’s technology utilizes algae to remove pollutants and contaminants from wastewater efficiently. AlgaeBioCleanse, its flagship product, harnesses natural algae processes to treat industrial and municipal wastewater. This system reduces harmful chemicals and organic waste, promoting a cleaner environment. The platform’s closed-loop design ensures minimal waste and maximizes resource recovery. Additionally, AlgaeBioCleanse supports nutrient recycling, converting wastewater into valuable by-products.
evroc builds Green Data Center
evroc offers innovative sustainable data center solutions for the technology industry. The company’s platform integrates advanced energy-efficient technologies to minimize environmental impact. The company’s data centers use renewable energy sources to power operations, reducing carbon footprints significantly. Additionally, its cooling systems optimize energy use and employ modular design in data centers to enable scalability and reduce resource consumption.
Gain Comprehensive Insights into Sustainability Trends, Startups, or Technologies
The 2024 Sustainability Industry Report highlights significant advancements and identifies ongoing challenges within the sector. It reveals a surge of investment, supportive regulations, and increasing consumer demand driving the industry’s growth. Innovative solutions in key areas like sustainable agriculture, carbon reduction, and the circular economy show promising progress. Get in touch to explore all 6460+ startups and scaleups, as well as all industry trends impacting sustainability companies.
