12 July 2023: Global Healthcare company Bupa today put out a call for more corporates to help incubate start-ups that are innovating to halt climate change.
Speaking ahead of the company's first Bupa eco-Disruptive Live event, Group CEO Iñaki Ereño called on more corporates to help accelerate the pace of innovation required to tackle climate change – and in turn mitigate the impact on human health – by working with disruptive and promising start-ups.
Mr Ereño said: “It's important that Bupa is supporting these inspirational start-ups who are exploring new solutions to some of the biggest environmental challenges we face. As a provider of healthcare services to millions of people across the world, we recognise the link between the environment and human health. We know that we cannot solve these global challenges on our own, and we hope other like-minded businesses join us in supporting the next generation of sustainability pioneers.”
The call to action comes as sustainability start-ups increasingly struggle to get backing in a challenging economic environment.
The eco-Disruptive Live event celebrates 18 sustainability innovators from Bupa's eco-Disruptive programme, a global initiative where employees in teams across the globe identify start-ups who are developing innovations with the potential to tackle climate change and regenerate nature as well as deliver health benefits.
Held in London, Bupa eco-Disruptive Live showcases innovations from start-ups including:
- Clearbot, an electric, self-driving and sustainable robot boat system that helps maintain and improve the physical health of the ocean and waterways we rely on
- Upcycled Medical, which manufactures personal protective equipment such as medical scrubs, gowns and workwear from waste plastic collected from the sea and landfill
- SageTech Medical, which has created a process to capture and recycle waste anaesthetic gases. These volatile gases are highly damaging to the environment and significantly contribute to the total carbon footprint of healthcare
Each Bupa eco-Disruptive finalist has received £25,000 (or local currency equivalent) to develop a minimum viable product with the winning start-up receiving £200,000 (or local currency equivalent) each year to further develop their idea. Last year's winner, Cassava Bags, which has developed 100% biodegradable bags, has recently extended its partnership with Bupa Australia. Cassava Bags will provide clinical products such as headrests and tray sleeves across a number of Bupa Dental practices around Australia in addition to bin liners.
The eco-Disruptive programme was first launched in 2021 and is now in its third year, running across countries or regions where Bupa operates including Australia, Spain, UK, New Zealand, and Hong Kong, and invites all employees globally to follow progress and vote on the finalists. This initiative is part of Bupa's sustainability strategy which recognises that it's not possible to look after people's health without addressing the health of the planet.
The event brings together over 400 people to celebrate the finalists. Over 20 speakers, including sustainability impact investor and TV personality Deborah Meaden, futurist Shivvy Jervis, and 2022 Earthshot prize winner and co-founder of NotPla, Pierre Paslier, will participate in discussions around the importance of start-ups in driving sustainable innovation, and lessons from leading entrepreneurs in the sustainable business space.
TV personality Deborah Meaden said: “I'm really excited to meet these talented start-ups - a healthy planet needs thriving innovators. Closer collaboration between businesses of all sizes can inspire sustainable solutions that have a much greater impact on the health of the planet, and is critical to regenerating nature. Bupa's eco-Disruptive programme is designed to test, prove and adopt innovations that meet business needs and will help to make a tangible, positive difference to the health of our planet for generations to come.”
Deborah is offering guidance and support to the start-ups throughout the day, as well as delivering an opening address at the event.
About Bupa
Bupa's purpose is helping people live longer, healthier, happier lives and making a better world. We are an international healthcare company serving over 43 million customers worldwide. With no shareholders, we reinvest profits into providing more and better healthcare for the benefit of current and future customers. We directly employ around 82,000 people, principally in the UK, Australia, Spain, Chile, Poland, New Zealand, Hong Kong SAR, Türkiye, Brazil, Mexico, the US, Middle East and Ireland. We also have associate businesses in Saudi Arabia and India.
Our sustainability strategy
As a healthcare company we have an important role in addressing climate change, and a responsibility to act now. In 2021, sustainability was included in our corporate strategy, and in 2022, we launched our sustainability strategy, outlining our ambition to help tackle this challenge, and ‘making a better world’ for colleagues, customers, communities and wider society.
Our strategy has a clear net zero goal by 2040 underpinned by 1.5 degree aligned Science Based Targets (SBT) validated by the SBT initiative (SBTi), and an interim scope 1 & 2 2025 target. To set credible and ambitious targets we joined the UN-backed Race to Zero campaign, aligning our plans to tackle emissions with the Paris Agreement.
You can find out more on our sustainability strategy page.
