We’re excited to announce the eight winners of the WDCD Accelerator 2025, a development programme that supports creative entrepreneurs working at the forefront of climate action. Organised by What Design Can Do, the programme celebrates radical design ideas that aim to regenerate ecosystems, challenge extractive systems, and spark cultural change.
This year’s selection features designers rethinking materials, mobility, lighting, fashion, and waste—with each project combining systems-thinking, community insight, and a bold creative spirit. Over the next six months, the winners will receive mentorship, visibility, and funding to strengthen their ventures and scale their impact.
“With the WDCD Accelerator, we’re not just backing good ideas—we’re supporting the people and systems that will make circular design the new standard,” says WDCD co-founder and creative director Richard van der Laken.
MEET THE WINNERS
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CARBON CELL – supported by secridMATERIALS | INDIATurning biochar into compostable, carbon-negative foam as a clean alternative to fossil-based foams for packaging and insulation. |
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BOLT – supported by secridMOBILITY | INDIAA $100 pocket-sized device that transforms any bicycle into an e-bike instantly, using minimal materials and enabling urban sustainability. |
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PAPILIO – supported by secridSPACES | NETHERLANDSA wind-powered streetlight that only turns on when needed, saving energy and protecting insects with its low-impact, warm lighting design. |
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GIVE GIVEPRODUCTS | UKAn offline toy-swapping platform for children, using a playful app to encourage local sharing, reduce waste, and build community. |
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LOOM – THE UPCYCLING APPFASHION | NETHERLANDSA platform connecting users with designers who upcycle garments into custom pieces, reducing textile waste and supporting creative reuse. |
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ANDAO COMPANYPRODUCTS | MADAGASCARProducing school furniture from 100% recycled plastic waste, benefiting thousands of students while reducing pollution and supporting local craftspeople. |
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ESO EXTENSIONSMATERIALS | KENYAA sustainable alternative to synthetic hair extensions made from pineapple fibres and dyed naturally, supporting circular agriculture and zero-waste beauty. |
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ER OCEAN RECHERCHEMATERIALS | FRANCETransforming seafood waste and seaweed into ocean-positive textiles like SeiYarn™ and SeiShell™, which reduce water use and microplastics. |
WHAT’S NEXT?
The winners now begin a six-month development journey through the WDCD Accelerator programme. It kicks off with an intensive Sprint Week in Amsterdam, where teams will dive into strategic coaching, visit pioneering circular studios, and collaborate with mentors across design, business, and impact. This hands-on experience is followed by a bespoke online mentorship programme, connecting each team to a global network of experts, creative leaders, and investors.
Their next major milestone comes on 6 June, when the teams will take the stage at WDCD Live Amsterdam 2025—sharing their visions and progress with an international audience of changemakers, industry leaders, and policymakers. This high-profile platform marks a key opportunity for the teams to gain visibility, build connections, and inspire action.
As part of this next chapter, three of the eight winners have also been selected for exclusive support by Secrid, the Dutch pocketwear brand and WDCD’s long-time partner in circular innovation. Through its Impact Fund, which invests 1% of its revenue into design, Secrid provides additional coaching, communications support, and Accelerator sponsorship to three promising projects and their teams. Among them, Carbon Cell has been selected for the Secrid Talent Podium Award, which includes a €7,777.77 grant and a featured exhibition at Dutch Design Week 2025.