Nine start-ups take part in Bord na Móna’s 2025 green accelerator

Bord na Móna has announced the selection of nine innovative green businesses to participate in its 2025 Accelerate Green Grow programme. These companies, spanning multiple industries, will engage in comprehensive workshops, mentorship, and networking opportunities with key industry leaders to drive sustainability-focused advancements in Ireland.

The nine selected businesses are The Planted Way, Novelplast, Circular Food Co, BioSense, Easydry, JTM Energy, Watt Footprint, Pulse Market, and Plaswire. Each of these firms is dedicated to pioneering solutions within the energy, food-tech, circular economy, biodiversity, and artificial intelligence sectors.

Launched in 2022 in collaboration with Resolve Partners, the Accelerate Green Grow programme is a core part of Bord na Móna’s €5 million investment in fostering green innovation in Ireland. Over the past three years, 60 companies have benefited from the programme, gaining essential insights and support to further their sustainable ventures.

Participants will undergo an intensive eight-module series, featuring learning sessions and mentoring workshops at the Accelerate Green Hub in Co Offaly. Additionally, they will have the opportunity to engage with top industry experts, including representatives from enterprise and energy agencies, Irish corporates, research networks, and investment groups. A key highlight will be the Accelerate Green conference, scheduled for 15 May in Tullamore, where these companies will present their innovations to Bord na Móna executives, stakeholders, industry experts, and investors.

Tom Donnellan, Chief Executive of Bord na Móna, expressed his enthusiasm for the programme, stating: “Each year, I am more impressed by the calibre of companies joining the Accelerate Green Grow programme. The initiative is a crucial component of Bord na Móna’s €5 million commitment to nurturing Ireland’s emerging green innovation network between 2022 and 2025. We remain dedicated to advancing decarbonisation and fostering an environmentally sustainable economy.”

Mairead McGuinness, former European Commissioner for Financial Stability, Financial Services, and the Capital Markets Union, also attended the programme’s launch. She highlighted the importance of sustainable business solutions, remarking: “We cannot ignore the threats of climate change and environmental degradation. The Accelerate Green Grow programme plays a vital role in supporting businesses that provide innovative solutions. Sustainability is no longer optional; businesses that fail to address environmental challenges will struggle to survive in the long term.”

Bord na Móna, originally established in 1946 for peatland harvesting, has since evolved into a leader in sustainability and climate action. The Accelerate Green Grow initiative is partially supported by the EU’s Life-integrated project, Peatlands and People, reinforcing its commitment to sustainable development.

Last year’s cohort saw nine start-ups complete the programme, working on pioneering solutions such as microorganisms that convert carbon dioxide into protein and a software platform aimed at enhancing biodiversity management. This year’s participants are expected to follow in their footsteps, leveraging the programme’s resources to propel their sustainable innovations forward.