Cellx BioSolutions Wins Swiss Future Award

The Schlieren-based company, led by CEO and co-founder Estelle Clerc, won the Environmental Award at the 2026 Swiss Future Awards. B Lab Switzerland and the PETRAM Foundation present this award to recognize sustainable solutions that are revolutionizing their industries and markets.
Cellx BioSolutions received the award for its bacterial separation technology, which uses naturally occurring bacteria to degrade a wide range of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in wastewater and soil. This method is significantly less expensive and has a substantially smaller carbon footprint than conventional incineration.

“This award confirms that biological solutions for persistent contamination are not only possible, but necessary right now,” said Clerc in a press release from her company, founded in 2024. “The prize will help us advance our industrial pilot projects and test our solutions on a large scale—a crucial step from the lab to real-world impact.”

The Swiss Future Award comes with a 25,000 Swiss franc prize. Winners also receive personalized coaching. The winner of the People’s Choice Award receives “Impact Coaching.” The awards are presented annually by two Geneva-based foundations: B Lab (Suisse) and PETRAM. The awards recognize companies for their outstanding contributions toward a more sustainable economy. Both impact-driven startups based in Switzerland that have been in operation for at least one year and SMEs with up to 250 full-time employees are eligible to participate.

(Translated, Café Europe Nachrichten AG)