Three pioneering sustainability companies in the final of the Green Business Award
From the fight against "eternal chemicals" to climate-neutral heat supply for cities and solar power for greenhouses. The three finalists of the seventh Green Business Award Oxyle, Everllence and Voltiris prove that sustainability leads to entrepreneurial success.
"A future worth living is created where entrepreneurial spirit meets ecological responsibility," says Cédric Habermacher, Director of Green Business Switzerland. Every year, the Green Business Award honors Swiss solutions that combine ecological impact with economic success. This year's finalists include two up-and-coming scale-ups and a large company with a sustainable business model.
Large heat pump that supplies entire cities with climate-neutral district heating
Around 40% of global CO₂ emissions are caused by heat generation1. This is precisely where Everllence from Zurich comes in, developing large heat pumps that can be used to convert entire cities to CO₂-neutral district heating. The company uses environmental heat from seawater, lakes, rivers, waste water, ambient air or industrial processes. An integrated water tank stores excess heat and makes it available as required. In this way, the heat pump not only acts as a heat supplier, but also as an energy store. This stabilizes the grid and increases efficiency. Everllence's technology enables the simultaneous production of heat and cold with high efficiency. In Esbjerg (DK), two large heat pumps are replacing an entire coal-fired power plant and supplying 25,000 households with climate-friendly district heating. This saves around 120,000 tons of CO₂ per year. Jury president Doris Leuthard: "Everllence shows how Swiss industry can drive forward decarbonization - technologically precise and economically viable. This is exactly the kind of solution we need." The innovation is developed and produced in Zurich-West - with 950 employees and 220 years of experience at the Swiss site.
Permanent PFAS elimination for clean water
Dr. Fajer Mushtaq grew up in Delhi, where scarce and polluted water shaped her everyday life. Today, the co-founder and CEO of Oxyle from Schlieren and her team of 30 are developing a solution to one of the world's most persistent water pollutants: PFAS, also known as "perpetual chemicals" (see article in ORGANISATOR 1-2/2025, subject to charge). They are found in everyday products such as outdoor clothing, baking paper, cosmetics and Teflon pans. They enter the environment via wastewater and accumulate in soil, water and the human body. Even the smallest amounts can have a toxic effect - with consequences such as cancer, infertility or disorders of the immune and endocrine systems. Due to their chemical properties, PFAS are considered to be particularly harmful to the environment. The water in Switzerland is also heavily contaminated with PFAS: A 2021 study by the National Groundwater Monitoring (NAQUA) detected PFAS in almost half of over 500 groundwater monitoring sites examined. Oxyle is developing a solution that not only removes PFAS from the water, but also permanently degrades them - including the particularly problematic short-chain compounds. "Oxyle sheds light on an invisible danger that affects us all and impressively demonstrates how Swiss technology can contribute to solving global environmental problems," says Doris Leuthard.
Innovative solar modules for greenhouses without any crop loss
Farmers with greenhouses are faced with a dilemma: they have to decide whether to use the roof of the greenhouse for energy generation or for sunlight to grow plants. However, plants only need part of the light spectrum for photosynthesis. This is precisely where Voltiris from Epalinges (VD) comes in. The scale-up develops solar modules that split the light. The special films allow the part relevant for plant growth to pass through and convert the rest into solar power. The technology enables the area to be used twice - for yield and energy - without impairing plant growth. The modules can be integrated into existing greenhouses and offer a solution for a particularly energy-intensive sector. For example, greenhouses can reduce their CO₂ emissions by up to 95% with Voltiris solar modules. Co-founder and CEO Nicolas Weber and his 24-strong team are already implementing the technology on a large scale: In May 2025, Voltiris installed the first hectare installation at Meier Gemüse in Rütihof (AG). In just four weeks, they installed around 1,800 modules without interrupting production. "Voltiris' technology combines agricultural production with renewable energy in a meaningful way. This is a strong lever on the way to climate-neutral agriculture," says Doris Leuthard about the jury's decision.
The final of the Green Business Award will take place on February 13, 2026 at Impact Gstaad. The finalists will present their solutions to potential investors there, giving them the opportunity to obtain growth financing for international scaling. Because only when Swiss solutions are used internationally can they have a real impact on our planet.
