Celebrating Green Innovation at the Baltic Sustainability Awards 2024

The Baltic Sustainability Awards 2024 has once again spotlighted the innovative spirit and dedication of the region's green pioneers. This year’s event, held on November 26–27 at the Splendid Palace in Riga, brought together thought leaders, trailblazing companies, and groundbreaking startups. From innovative solutions in CO2 capture to eco-friendly urban development projects, the winners exemplify how sustainability can drive both environmental and economic progress.

Estonia Dominates with Groundbreaking Wins

Estonian companies showcased exceptional prowess, winning in five of the ten categories and securing all four special awards. A standout performer was UP Catalyst, which took home awards in the “Innovation to Mitigate the Climate Crisis” and “Production and Industrial Symbiosis” categories. The company is renowned for converting CO2 waste biomass into sustainable carbon nanomaterials. Zane Valujeva, Head of Sustainability at Danone Nordic and Baltic Markets, praised UP Catalyst for its transformative impact.

Another major success story was Neular OÜ. Their recycled plastic waste solutions earned the top spot in the Circular Economy category. By turning sorted municipal waste into high-performance building materials, Neular has positioned itself as a leader in tackling the global plastic crisis.

In the Food Industry category, Äio Tech OÜ emerged as a strong contender. This startup creates edible fats and oils from agricultural and wood residues, showcasing innovative contributions to food sustainability. Meanwhile, DPD Baltics shone in Transport and Mobility, achieving a remarkable 26% reduction in emissions per parcel through its eco-friendly delivery initiatives.

Special awards also celebrated Estonian ingenuity:

• Esgrid for sustainable procurement processes.

• Things SA, creators of the waste segregation platform kuhuviia.ee, for innovative service design.

• 2C Ventures Climate Fund for investments in early-stage green tech.

• Raw Edge OÜ for its probiotic soft drinks.

  
  

Latvia and Lithuania Also Shine

Latvia and Lithuania made significant contributions at the awards, emphasizing cross-border collaboration in sustainability. One notable project was Urbanbee, a biodiversity-promoting urban beekeeping service that won the Urban Development category. Similarly, the Lithuanian company SoliTek clinched the Energy Technologies award for its sustainable solar solutions.

In Latvia, the Sustainability Herald award went to Ieva Kustova, CEO of SIA Futurcene, for her efforts in inspiring businesses to integrate sustainability into their operations. Her leadership has encouraged innovation and growth in the region.

Celebrating Collaboration

The success of the Baltic Sustainability Awards reflects a broader trend. Collaborative efforts across borders are paving the way for sustainable innovation. Regional companies are learning from each other's successes and challenges. This sharing of knowledge is crucial for achieving long-term sustainability goals.

The awards emphasized the importance of partnerships between diverse stakeholders, including governments, private sectors, and non-profit organizations. Together, they can create lasting change and help build a sustainable future for all.

Key Highlights of the Awards

This year, the jury evaluated 188 applications from across the Baltics. This number reflects the growing regional commitment to sustainable innovation. An esteemed jury of 84 international experts reviewed entries aligned with EU climate goals, including reducing CO2 emissions by up to 70%.

Kristaps Cīrulis, CEO and Partner of Baltic Sustainability Awards & Forum, emphasized the importance of fostering regional collaboration and scalability for these initiatives. He stated, “The winners exemplify how innovation can reduce environmental harm while boosting business competitiveness.”

A Call for Broader Impact

The BSA 2024 not only recognized achievements but also reinforced the need for a collective push towards sustainability. As the event drew to a close, participants were reminded of the power of innovation to shape a greener, more resilient future. Each recipient demonstrated a commitment to not just their own growth, but also to the health of our planet.

Baltic Sustainability Awards 2024 Winners and Finalists

1. Climate Innovations

• Winner: UP Catalyst OÜ (Estonia)

• 2nd Place: eAgronom OÜ (Estonia)

• 3rd Place: Jūrmalas ūdens LTD (Latvia)

  
  

2. Circular Economy

• Winner: Neular OÜ (Estonia)

• 2nd Place: Äio Tech OÜ (Estonia)

• 3rd Place: Naco Technologies (Latvia)

  
  

3. Energy Technologies

• Winner: SoliTek (Lithuania)

• 2nd Place: VšĮ "Atnaujinkime miestą" (Lithuania)

• 3rd Place: Jūrmalas ūdens LTD (Latvia)

  
  

4. Social Initiatives

• Winner: VšĮ "Atnaujinkime miestą" (Lithuania)

• 2nd Place: Lithuanian Non-Formal Education Agency (Lithuania)

• 3rd Place: GreenDice AS (Estonia)

  
  

5. Urban Development

• Winner: Urbanbee.lt (UAB Miesto bitininkai) (Latvia, Lithuania)

• 2nd Place: VšĮ "Atnaujinkime miestą" (Lithuania)

• 3rd Place: R8 Technologies OÜ (Estonia)

  
  

6. Biodiversity & Conservation

• Winner: Not awarded

• 2nd Place: Urbanbee.lt (UAB Miesto bitininkai) (Latvia, Lithuania)

• 3rd Place (shared): Cēsis Municipality (Latvia), Farmers Circle (Lithuania)

  
  

7. Transport & Mobility

• Winner: DPD Baltics (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania)

• 2nd/3rd Place (shared): UP Catalyst OÜ (Estonia), SoliTek Cells (Lithuania)

  
  

8. Food Innovations

• Winner: Äio Tech OÜ (Estonia)

• 2nd Place: eAgronom OÜ (Estonia)

• 3rd Place: UAB Baltic Freya (Lithuania)

  
  

9. Regenerative Agriculture

• Winner: Farmers Circle (Lithuania)

• 2nd Place: eAgronom OÜ (Estonia)

• 3rd Place: Vikonda Group, UAB (Lithuania)

  
  

10. Industrial Symbiosis

• Winner: UP Catalyst OÜ (Estonia)

• 2nd Place: Kanapiniai Sprendimai (Lithuania)

• 3rd Place: Pranamat Fabrika, SIA (Latvia)

  
  

11. Sustainability Ambassadors

• Latvia:

- Winner: Ieva Kustova

- 2nd Place: Kitija Balcare

- 3rd Place: Dmitrijs Lisenko

• Estonia:

- Winner: Jana Budkovskaja

- 2nd Place: Anna Celine Kraus

- 3rd Place: Sirli Rosenvald

• Lithuania:

- Winner: Tatjana Paulauskiene

- 2nd Place: Mayur Pal

- 3rd Place: Paulius Chockevičius

12. Special Prize Categories

• Process:

- Winner: Esgrid (Estonia)

- 2nd Place: Token Tails (Lithuania)

- 3rd Place: SIA "Astro Music," AJ Power Recycling, ZAAO (Latvia)

• Design:

- Winner: Things SA (Estonia)

- 2nd Place: N/A (Latvia)

- 3rd Place: Pranamat Fabrika, SIA (Latvia)

• Investment:

- Winner: 2C Ventures (Estonia)

- 2nd Place: Smartcap AS (Estonia)

• Discovery:

- Winner: Raw Edge OÜ (Estonia)

- 2nd Place: Riga Technical University (Latvia)

- 3rd Place: PrintyMed (Latvia)

For more information, visit the Baltic Sustainability Awards website.