Oxyle wins Green Business Award with solution against PFAS chemicals

The Green Business Award 2026 goes to Oxyle. The Zurich-based scale-up impressed the jury with its innovative solution to combat PFAS, the so-called «perpetual chemicals». These highly toxic chemicals accumulate in groundwater and drinking water as well as in the human body. Founder Dr. Fajer Mushtaq and her team have developed a technology that not only removes PFAS, but also permanently degrades them. Oxyle thus makes a significant contribution to protecting the environment and human health.

Switzerland heavily contaminated with PFAS

Switzerland is heavily contaminated with PFAS. Studies show that these highly toxic perpetual chemicals can be detected in over half of the groundwater monitoring wells and in people's blood. All soils examined also contain PFAS - even remote places such as the Matterhorn. The substances increase the risk of cancer and infertility, damage the immune and endocrine systems and remain in the environment for centuries due to their extreme stability.

This is exactly where Oxyle comes in: The ETH spin-off has developed a technology that not only removes PFAS from water, but destroys them completely. With this solution, Oxyle convinced the jury of Switzerland's most important sustainability award.

Doris Leuthard, former Federal Councillor and President of the jury, says: «The classification of PFAS contamination is still new and much is unclear. One thing is certain: In addition to political solutions to prevent PFAS, approaches such as those of Oxyle, which permanently break down chemicals already in circulation, are also needed.»

What are PFAS chemicals?

PFAS (perfluorinated and polyfluorinated alkyl compounds) are odorless and tasteless chemicals that are extremely long-lasting - hence the term «eternity chemicals». Due to their water-, grease- and dirt-repellent properties, they are used in countless everyday products: in outdoor clothing, cosmetics, Teflon pans, dental floss and even toilet paper. At the same time, PFAS get into soil, water and plants through industrial wastewater, fire extinguishing foams or sewage sludge, from where they spread further into the environment. They gradually find their way into food, drinking water and everyday consumer goods.

From childhood dream to innovation

Founder and CEO of Oxyle, Dr. Fajer Mushtaq, grew up in Delhi and was confronted with the issue of water pollution during her childhood. These formative experiences motivated Mushtaq to found Oxyle. Together with her now 30-strong team, she develops customized, scalable and energy-efficient solutions that completely eliminate short-chain PFAS, which were previously difficult to break down.

Dr. Fajer Mushtaq is delighted to have won the award: «Protecting our waters has long been a personal concern of mine. One that our entire team shares with conviction. We are very honored that Oxyle's work has been recognized with the Green Business Award.»

Sustainable innovations in the spotlight

The Green Business Award was presented for the seventh time. In the final at Impact Gstaad, Oxyle came out on top against two other companies: Voltiris, which uses solar modules for greenhouses without crop loss, and Everllence, whose large heat pump supplies entire cities with climate-neutral district heating.

The Green Business Award is the most prestigious sustainability award in Switzerland and offers finalists a unique opportunity to finance growth. «With the Green Business Award, we want to give visibility to companies that show that sustainability is a business opportunity. Our finalists show what is possible when business takes responsibility,» says Cédric Habermacher, Director of Green Business Switzerland.

The selection process takes place in a multi-stage procedure. The main jury includes well-known personalities such as Michèle Rodoni, CEO of Mobiliar, Axpo CEO Christoph Brand and Prof. Dr. Reto Knutti from ETH.

More information: https://www.oxyle.ch