Swiss Climate Foundation supports 8 SMEs with over one million francs

Twice a year, the Swiss Climate Foundation decides on funding applications from SMEs that make a measurable contribution to climate protection. In the first funding round in 2026, 8 projects were selected and supported with a total amount of CHF 1.084 million. The funded projects range from natural packaging alternatives and CO₂-negative concrete to the mineralization of CO₂ in wood ash.

The Foundation's annual impact measurement proves that funding is particularly crucial in the initial phase: in the 2025 financial year, 23% of SMEs receiving funding stated that they would not have realized their innovation project without the Foundation's support. A further 41% would only have implemented their project after a long delay or to a significantly reduced extent.

Seaweed instead of plastic: Noriware develops natural packaging films

Plastic packaging is predominantly made from fossil raw materials and causes greenhouse gas emissions throughout its entire life cycle - from production to disposal. At the same time, regulatory and social pressure is growing to reduce single-use plastic and replace it with more sustainable alternatives. The Aargau-based company Noriware has developed one such alternative with «Norifresh». «This is a 100 % natural packaging film for fruit and vegetables that behaves like plastic. But it has a secret,» reveals CEO and co-founder Jessica Farda: «It is made from algae.» The product offers a biogenic alternative to conventional plastic films and is made from renewable raw materials.

Concrete from climate problem to climate solution

After water, concrete is the most widely used building material in the world. The cement contained in concrete is one of the biggest sources of CO₂ emissions. In order to achieve the construction sector's climate targets, solutions are therefore needed that go beyond simply reducing emissions. This is precisely the goal that Klark in Graubünden is pursuing. The project, which is funded by the Swiss Climate Foundation, involves setting up a production site in Landquart for the industrial production of a biochar additive - an additive that is mixed into concrete. This approach enables manufacturers to produce CO₂-neutral or even CO₂-negative concrete in which carbon remains permanently bound. «I see opportunities where others see limitations,» says Andreas Schefer, Managing Director of Klark, and emphasizes: «We have a clear mission. To turn concrete from a climate problem into a climate solution. Our company uses the potential of biochar to store carbon in the long term.»

Wood ash binds CO₂

One of the key challenges on the road to net zero is the permanent sequestration of CO₂. The current surplus of the greenhouse gas in the atmosphere makes it clear that, in addition to reducing emissions, historically emitted quantities must also be actively removed. In partnership with Amstutz Holzenergie and the umbrella organization Holzenergie Schweiz, Go-climate from Rigi Scheidegg wants to implement such a solution. «The aim of our project is to enrich wood ash with CO₂,» explains Managing Director Carl Ulrich Gminder. The potential is there: According to the Federal Office for the Environment, around 75,000 tons of wood ash are produced in Switzerland every year. With its project, the Schwyz-based SME aims to mineralize up to 2,000 tonnes of CO₂ per year in future in order to lower the concentration in the air and reduce the costly transport of CO₂ abroad.

Further SMEs supported in the first round 2026

In addition to the three projects presented, the technologies and projects of other Swiss SMEs will also be supported in the first 2026 funding round: Limu.eco from Mettmenstetten (ZH), Nullpunkt from Oberengstringen (ZH), UpVolt from Basel (BS), Winduction from Zurich (ZH) and Modual from Brunnen (SZ).

The next deadline for submitting funding applications to the Swiss Climate Foundation is September 1, 2026. Further information can be found at www.klimastiftung.ch.