AMSTERDAM, Sept. 10, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Dutch Postcode Lottery announced today the winner of its 2015 Postcode Lottery Green Challenge, the largest annual international sustainability innovation competition that seeks to promote a low carbon economy and a greener future by investing in emerging green entrepreneurs. After intense competition with some of the industry's rising green entrepreneurs, Dutch start-up Land Life Company was selected as this year's winner for "Cocoon," its green business plan to help trees flourish in dryland environments, while U.S. based start-up Muufri is selected as runner-up.
Jurriaan Ruys, Winner of 2015 Postcode Lottery Green Challenge
Juuriaan Ruys of Land Life Company and Ryan Pandya of Muufri
Land Life Company
Muufri
An international jury, chaired by Steve Howard, chief sustainability officer of IKEA Group, awarded Jurriaan Ruys, Land Life Company co-founder, 500,000 euro (approximately $535,000 USD) to further develop his vision and bring Cocoon to market.
"All of these ideas have the potential for business success and scalability – which is the only way we are going to tackle carbon dioxide emissions in the long-term. This is the century of the Green Entrepreneur and the Postcode Lottery Green Challenge is a challenge, as well as an opportunity, for everyone that shares the same passion for a greener environment," said Steve Howard, chairman of this year's international jury. "It is inspiring to see how these green entrepreneurs are contributing to a better world and all of the business plans presented here today are each unique and forward-thinking."
Ruys won the jury over with his innovative solution to dryland environments that have been degraded by deforestation and mismanagement. Cocoon is a 100 percent biodegradable and low cost alternative to dryland afforestation, providing seedlings with water and shelter before decomposing into substrate and nutrients for the tree. Afforestation of drylands – 45 percent of the earth's land surface – is a key solution to address the impacts of climate change.
"I'm very excited to win this year's challenge and further develop this project," said Ruys. "With this prize money, we'll be able to install large-scale demonstration projects in Mexico, Spain and California to showcase how to effectively restore the natural environment and inspire world leaders to follow our example on a large scale."
The runner-up prize of 200,000 euro goes to Ryan Pandya of Muufri from the United States. Muufri makes milk without using cows and its unique process for "brewing" milk could eliminate vast amounts of greenhouse gas emissions that are being generated by commercial dairy farming. The company has identified the necessary proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals found in dairy products to blend the milk of the future. A preliminary life-cycle assessment indicates that Muufri's technique generates 35 to 65 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions than dairy farming.
Other green start-ups in the finalist round of the competition include Cornelis de Vet of Fleet Cleaner from the Netherlands, Stacy Flynn of Evrnu from the U.S., and Rodrigo Garcia Gonzalez of Ooho! from the United Kingdom.
271 submissions from across the globe Now in its ninth year, the Postcode Lottery Green Challenge seeks to support innovative products or services aimed at reducing carbon dioxide emissions and other greenhouse gases. This year, a total of 271 entrepreneurs from 56 countries submitted their green business plans to participate in the Challenge.
For interview requests with the winner or one of the other finalists contact Arjan Beerman via [email protected]
About the Postcode Lottery Green Challenge In contribution to a greener world, the Dutch Postcode Lottery has organised the annual Postcode Lottery Green Challenge since 2007. It is the largest annual international competition in the field of sustainability innovation. All participants must submit a detailed business plan, meeting several criteria, for assessment by a preliminary jury. Meanwhile, winners from previous editions have successfully developed their innovative products thanks to the publicity and network of the Postcode Lottery Green Challenge. In 2014, British entrepreneur Arthur Kay won €500,000 for his business Bio-bean, which converts coffee grounds into biofuels: biodiesel and combustible bio pellets.
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