Sometimes green innovation can seem complex and out of reach – something that is constantly talked about in the news, yet feels absent from everyday life. In reality, however, there are companies in Estonia developing products that improve both our lives and the environment. Two such companies are participating in the Forests, Soil and Biodiversity Green Accelerator: KLAREVA and Wemel Wood.
KLAREVA – how to turn waste into a valuable resource
KLAREVA is a company that grows insects, specifically black soldier flies, on food industry by-products. Instead of relying on animal-based or synthetic additives, they let insects break down plant-based waste. This transforms waste into something valuable again: insect protein, fat, and natural fertilizer. It’s one of the most tangible forms of circular economy – food that would otherwise go to waste or be used for biogas production is given a new life as animal feed and soil nutrients.
With the help of the accelerator, KLAREVA has been able to upgrade its machinery and start experiments to make plant waste processing even more efficient. They are studying how to improve insect reproduction and how to optimise their feed to maximise efficiency. In the longer term, they also plan to work on selective breeding – creating even better and more effective “biowaste recyclers.”
Wemel Wood – why not use wood instead of plastic?
Wemel Wood is working to replace plastic components in the electronics sector with renewable materials, such as wood. They are starting small with items like plug and switch covers and frames, but their ambition goes further: to demonstrate that even in complex everyday components, sustainable materials can be used.
With the support of the accelerator, Wemel Wood has been able to attend trade fairs and raise awareness of their work. They are ambitious to grow, find cooperation partners across Europe, and bring much-needed change to a sector where material innovation has traditionally been slow.
Wemel Wood also wants to inspire people to think more about how our daily choices – even the smallest parts inside electronic devices – affect the environment. By proving that such components can be made from renewable materials, they can spark innovation across the entire industry. Their work also adds value to wood by giving it new and important roles in areas where it hasn’t previously been considered.
“Forests, Soil & Biodiversity” green accelerator, led by Baltic Innovation Agency, Sparkup Tartu Science Park, and the Estonian University of Life Sciences. Supported by the KIK (Environmental Investment Centre) and the Ministry of Climate
