Collaborative Fund

Ravel is a waste management company specializing in textile recycling. It offers purification services for blended textiles and manufactures recycling machines that convert end-of-life clothing into market-grade fiber, promoting a circular economy.

Brightly is a company focused on reducing food waste while addressing food insecurity and climate change. It collaborates with food rescue organizations to convert their efforts into reliable carbon credits, thereby creating a sustainable funding model. Each day, millions of people face hunger, even as the food system produces an overwhelming amount of waste. Much of this surplus food ends up in landfills, generating methane gas and harming the environment. By assisting food rescue organizations in redirecting excess food to underserved communities, Brightly not only helps alleviate hunger but also mitigates the ecological impact of food waste. Through its innovative approach, the company aims to enhance food recovery efforts, feed more individuals, and promote a healthier planet.

MacroCycle Technologies is a company developing a chemical recycling process to convert polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyester-fiber waste into virgin-grade plastics. Their proprietary technology, based on synthesizing cyclic macromolecules, enables the production of recycled PET with lower energy use than traditional methods. This process offers a sustainable, zero-carbon, and cost-competitive solution for plastic upcycling, contributing to a circular economy.

pH7 is a cleantech company focused on sustainable extraction and refining of platinum group metals from primary resources, mining residues, and recycling streams. Its process employs green, biodegradable solvents in a closed-loop system to extract PGMs on-site at mines, scrap yards, and recycling facilities, avoiding smelting and minimizing waste and emissions. The technology enables economical, on-site recovery of precious metals from both primary and secondary resources, reducing environmental impact and supporting the transition to renewable energy by ensuring a secure supply of PGMs for catalysts and other applications.

Wasted* is a Vermont-based company founded in 2020 that specializes in transforming human waste into effective, safe, and sustainable fertilizers. Through its innovative circular sanitation technology, Wasted* separates urine from feces, preserving the nutrients contained in both while eliminating the need for chemical additives. This process not only enhances the value of human waste but also promotes a circular sanitation economy, effectively connecting individuals to their local environment. By enabling clients to convert waste into a sustainable resource, Wasted* addresses waste treatment and disposal challenges while contributing to environmental sustainability.

Keel Labs is a biomaterials company that focuses on developing ocean-based materials derived from renewable resources, particularly seaweed. The company aims to address the ecological damage caused by the fashion industry by creating durable and rapidly degradable yarns from kelp. Through its innovative platform, Keel Labs integrates scientific design and waste management into textile production, offering an alternative to conventional textiles for the footwear and apparel industries. This approach not only provides a functional resource but also emphasizes environmental sustainability, allowing for a more responsible and accessible option in material sourcing.

Kids on 45th, Inc. is a Seattle-based company that specializes in selling used clothing for children. Incorporated in 2018, the company operates as an e-commerce platform aimed at helping parents purchase affordable, high-quality, nearly-new clothing for their growing kids. Through a wardrobe subscription service, Kids on 45th provides customers with access to gently-used kids' clothes, which are conveniently delivered to their homes. This innovative approach not only offers cost-effective solutions for families but also promotes sustainability by giving new life to pre-owned garments.

For Days is a sustainable apparel company focused on promoting a circular economy by manufacturing and recycling textiles. It offers tees and other clothing on subscription and membership models and operates a take-back program that allows customers to return worn items for recycling, supporting a closed-loop system to reduce textile waste. The company also runs the Trashie rewards platform, which provides incentives for customers to participate in clothing recycling at scale and offers a range of goods beyond apparel, including skincare, home essentials and accessories. Based in Brooklyn and established in 2016, the company aims to reduce environmental impact through comprehensive recycling and reuse of used textiles.