Net Positive Labs

Applications are now open for the Sustainable Business Development Programe in Valencia! Net Positive Labs is thrilled to facilitate the Sustainable Business Development Programe in collaboration with València Innovation Capital. It is a free, 7-week hybrid programe designed to help corporates, SMEs, and startups ideate and create sustainable products, services, and business models for the built environment. If you want to learn how to design a business with positive impact, this programe is for you. You’ll work alongside international experts, receive personalised mentorship, and join a creative community of changemakers working towards a more sustainable future. Key dates:  → Kick-off online session: May 20, 2025  → In-person workshops in Valencia: June 12, July 11-12, 2025 Places are limited — apply now. Know someone who would love to join? Tag them in the comments! Learn more and apply here: https://lnkd.in/ghsh5Zee

The circular economy isn’t broken — it’s stuck between ambition and action. A group of leading companies (IKEA, bol and others) just rang the alarm in the Dutch newspaper NRC: Despite significant ambition, circular business models remain financially unattractive — and policy support is patchy at best. The result? A "circular impasse." Not for lack of ideas, not for lack of innovators, but because bold ambitions often hit a wall of unclear incentives, slow regulation, and disconnected stakeholders. What’s missing is the ability to turn good intentions into shared incentives, public-private alignment, and ventures that make circularity practical and profitable now. It’s easy to get excited about the promise of circularity. It’s harder to build the structures that make it real. But that’s where the work is. At Net Positive Labs we work to crack circular challenges every day. We are optimistic and have proven that we can turn circular challenges into profitable businesses. However, we welcome calls to action like these of major corporate players- to not just reignite the debate on how to reach circular objectives but to redraw some of the structures that reward certain models more than others. Link to the article: https://lnkd.in/ee-MJPCr

How do you create a radically different construction material—and then actually get it into the market? For Andres Mitnik, co-founder of Strong by Form, this question has guided a journey across architecture, venture capital, and industrial partnerships. His startup is pioneering bio-based composite materials to replace concrete and metal, starting with something as classic—and overlooked—as wood. In this interview, we talk about innovation cycles in the built environment, the power of alliances, and how Strong by Form is pushing the limits of what’s possible in construction and mobility. 🔗 Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/e7zGRD5F

For years, circular models were seen as "nice to have" - but today, they’re proving to be powerful growth engines for companies of all sizes. Circularity is reshaping entire industries, and the results speak for themselves. On behalf of Circular Economy Week, here are four real-world cases where rethinking business models is driving impact at scale: IKEA: From Selling to Circular Services IKEA has shifted beyond selling furniture to buy-backs, rentals, and refurbished collections. Their goal? 100% circular by 2030. Already, between 2016 and 2023, IKEA's largest franchisee, Ingka Group, achieved a 24.3% reduction in climate footprint while increasing revenue by 30.9%. Renault: Transforming Automotive Through Remanufacturing Renault is investing heavily in its The Remakers, Europe’s largest circular vehicle hub. By remanufacturing and refurbishing cars, parts, and batteries, Renault is extending vehicle lifespans and reducing emissions - while targeting 50% growth by 2030 from these initiatives. MUD Jeans: Pioneering the Subscription-Based Circular Jeans Instead of selling jeans, Mud Jeans leases them, allowing customers to return them for repair, resale, or recycling. The brand has reduced water usage by 92% per pair, while generating recurring revenue from leasing. gomi: Turning Plastic Waste into Design Electronics Gomi is transforming non-recyclable plastic into portable speakers, power banks, and tech accessories. Their upcycled tech products have a sleek aesthetic and can be repaired for life. Companies that innovate in this space are setting themselves up for sustainable growth and leadership in their industries. What other examples have caught your eye? Let’s discuss!

CBAM Updates - Sustainability beyond Regulation Recently, the European Commission (EC) introduced a set of regulatory updates aimed at simplifying EU rules, boosting competitiveness, and unlocking investment capacity. One of the key initiatives in this package is the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM)—a policy designed to streamline importer compliance while reinforcing the EU’s commitment to carbon pricing. At its core, CBAM places a cost on high-carbon imports, encouraging cleaner supply chains. However, the latest updates soften some of its impact with the aim to prevent carbon leakage—where companies shift carbon-intensive production to countries with weaker climate policies. 🔎 What’s Changing? - Smaller importers get a pass – A new 50-tonne exemption per year applies to key materials like aluminium, cement, fertilizers, iron, and steel. - More flexibility in reporting – Companies can choose between actual embedded emissions or default values. - CBAM Certificate purchases reduced – Instead of paying 80% upfront per quarter, importers will now only pay 50%. - Extended deadlines – The deadline for CBAM declarations moves to August 31, giving businesses more time to comply. At Net Positive Labs, we focus on business innovation in sustainability—helping companies adapt to shifting regulations, supply chain risks, and new market opportunities. While CBAM moves the needle on carbon accountability, the new updates also highlight the need for businesses to go beyond compliance. Let’s build better solutions—not just work around regulations. 

Everyone knows it: startups should use data to guide their decision-making. But it’s a reminder worth emphasizing, because how and when you apply scientific decision-making is equally important. A recent Harvard Business Review study highlights that while the scientific method can sometimes slow short-term growth, it ultimately helps build stronger, more resilient businesses by preventing premature scaling and short-sighted decision-making. Here are three key insights from the research: 1. Uncertainty in Early Stages Drives Long-Term Success - Startups face a trade-off between short-term performance and long-term viability. - Rushing to optimize too early can result in fragile business models. - Taking time to test assumptions helps avoid scaling ideas that don’t hold up. 2. Scientific Rigor Should Evolve with Startup Maturity - Early-stage founders must embrace uncertainty and experimentation before locking into a growth strategy. - Established startups should use systematic testing to optimize their business models. - Investors should adjust expectations—early-stage companies may not show immediate returns, but deep strategic exploration pays off in the long run. 3. Scientific Decision-Making Is a Tool—Its Impact Depends on How You Use It - When startups apply scientific rigor too early, they risk optimizing the wrong things. - When they skip rigorous testing later on, they may fail to refine and scale effectively. - The best founders know when to explore and when to optimize. At Net Positive Labs, we’ve seen firsthand how founders and investors struggle with when to experiment and when to optimize. Reflecting on these practices can help guide those choices. How do you apply scientific decision-making in your startup or investment strategy? https://lnkd.in/exAtqi-n

The global workforce is undergoing a fundamental shift as businesses, policymakers, and investors accelerate the transition toward a net-zero economy. The green transition—driven by climate policies, technological advancements, and shifting investor priorities—presents both significant economic opportunities and profound labor market disruptions. According to the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025, the green transition ranks as one of the most transformative forces shaping the global labor market, with 47% of employers expecting climate-change mitigation efforts to fundamentally reshape their industries by 2030. However, while demand for green jobs is accelerating, the availability of workers with the necessary skills is lagging behind. The number of job postings requiring at least one green skill has increased by 22% in the last year, yet only 12% more workers acquired such skills in the same period. This mismatch raises critical questions: - Are businesses prepared to meet their sustainability commitments with a workforce capable of delivering on green objectives? - Are existing education and training systems equipped to support large-scale green reskilling? - What strategic workforce interventions are required to ensure that labor shortages and skills gaps do not hinder the green transition? 🔗 Read our latest article, where we explore these pressing questions, offering a data-backed analysis of green job trends, skilling challenges, and strategic responses that businesses and policymakers must consider to future-proof the workforce. https://lnkd.in/epshr334 The Future of Jobs Report 2025: https://lnkd.in/eXRQi6zk

One challenge in innovation is knowing where to start. asknature is an open-access database that compiles biological strategies and their real-world applications in engineering, design, and sustainability. It serves as a practical resource for companies, researchers, and entrepreneurs looking to integrate nature-based solutions into their work—whether developing new materials, improving energy efficiency, or rethinking urban infrastructure. Biomimicry provides a blueprint for sustainable innovation. By studying how nature has solved challenges over millions of years, researchers and engineers can develop solutions that are more efficient, adaptive, and regenerative. This approach has led to significant advancements in materials, infrastructure, and product design across industries. Here are three innovations inspired by nature that align with UN Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable Cities & Communities: 1. High-Performance Biocomposites Inspired by Trees – by Strong by Form A bio-based composite that mimics tree structures to create lightweight, strong, and sustainable materials—a potential alternative to traditional construction and transportation materials. https://lnkd.in/ezYDVZsT 2. Seaweed-Based Specialty Additives & Coatings – by Soarce A process that extracts functional additives from seaweed waste, reducing reliance on petroleum-based chemicals in paints, coatings, and personal care products—helping industries transition toward safer, biodegradable alternatives. https://lnkd.in/eWX4N_pf 3. Versatile Synthetic Hydrogels Inspired by Animal Mucus – by Gel Matter - Activate A self-healing, adaptive hydrogel with applications in water management, urban cooling, and medical technologies, offering high-performance, nature-inspired solutions for various industries. https://lnkd.in/e9hqCv_p As industries shift toward more circular and regenerative models, biomimicry offers nature's strategies to do so. Try the tool for yourself!

This year, the European Union (EU) is advancing significant regulatory measures to address the environmental and health concerns associated with PFAS, commonly known as "forever chemicals." These chemicals, found in products like non-stick cookware and waterproof clothing, have been linked to liver damage, cancer, and developmental issues. They also accumulate in water, soil, and wildlife, creating lasting challenges for ecosystems and biodiversity. But this is also an opportunity for innovation and transformation. Companies like Enspired Solutions, Footprint, Evolve Lubricants, Inc., and HeiQ are leading with PFAS-free alternatives in different markets and proving that sustainable models can be innovative and profitable. We need to rethink materials, invest in alternatives, and seize the opportunity to lead in this fast-evolving market.

Just over two weeks into the new year and we have been confronted by news that the journey towards sustainability presents significant challenges. The year has begun with the stark reminder that global temperatures continue to rise, pushing us past the critical 1.5-degree Celsius mark above pre-industrial levels. Various regions are witnessing a rollback in sustainability policies, influenced by shifts in political leadership; and major investments firms, most notably, the world's biggest investment firm, BlackRock, have stepped back from the Climate Alliance and similar coalitions after pressure and accusations of breaching anti-trust rules, signaling a concerning trend. For reference, BlackRock today has $11.600 billion of assets under management. That is the size of India, Germany and Japan together in one year in Gross National Product. Their decisions certainly will be of significance. We know all of this news can make the start of the year feel overwhelming, which is why we want to share three recent positives that remind us of all the opportunities that still lie ahead.