Pet products firm Tangle has been selected to join Amazon’s Sustainability Accelerator for 2023.
The company, which makes products such as dog leads and toys from discarded commercial fishing nets that would otherwise litter the ocean, is one of eight UK firms to be chosen for the Accelerator scheme, which aims to nurture and support start-up businesses that promise a commitment to sustainability.
The Amazon Sustainability Accelerator is a 12-week programme to help founders navigate the challenges of starting and scaling a business. Amazon and EIT Climate-KIC will work together to help the start-ups through a Climate Impact Forecast, auditing the businesses’ climate impact and to develop strategies to improve their environmental footprint and consumer proposition.
The scheme also offers cash grants, free Amazon advertising credits and access to workshops and business mentors. At the end of the Accelerator programme, all startups will have the opportunity to pitch their business to a board of investors. Last year’s Amazon Sustainability Accelerator startups raised more than £4.5 million.
Tangle co-founder Xavier Warburton said: “We’re thrilled to be part of the Amazon Sustainability Accelerator program and to have the opportunity to work with other innovative startups. We believe that our approach can make a real difference in protecting our oceans and marine life, and we’re really looking forward to this next chapter and scaling up our impact with the support of Amazon and EIT Climate-KIC.
“We’re all aware of the impact of plastic bottles and straws, but in reality, ghost nets make up nearly half of all plastics in our oceans and they’re far more deadly to marine life. Lost or discarded nets continue to ‘ghost’ around the ocean entangling and killing marine life so unnecessarily,” he continued.
“By creating our beautifully made dog products from recycled nets, Tangle stops the ghost net problem and in-turn allows animal lovers help save marine life. We’re on track to stop over 500 tennis courts worth (137,800 sq m) of fishing nets becoming ghost nets this year.”
