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LONDON, May 18, 2022 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/ --

    -Beko announces winners of Hackathon

    Beko, one of the top 3 large home appliances brands in Europe, announced

the winners [

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRcz1-0ak-lpBaNlX3p48sy1e36NXxJbe ] of

its Hack the Normal – Sustainability [ https://hackthenormal.com/ ] event.

    Open to entrepreneurs and innovative thinkers from across Europe, the event

attracted over five hundred participants from 70 countries who developed unique

and practical solutions to some of the biggest environmental challenges

relating to climate change, water management, and circular economy.

     Beko is proud to present this year's top winners, which include:

    - Circular Economy winner: [ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7SMeOxZNRI ]

Team Salubata

The team aims to provide a solution to the global issue of plastic waste by

converting PET waste into desirable, practical footwear. Using patented

technology, the team developed a prototype and business pathway to help divert

almost 6 billion tonnes of plastic waste from landfills.

    - Climate Change winner: [ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2dIiTmCBPQ ]

Team 52

Team 52 tackled the issue of energy waste and carbon emissions produced by

household appliances left on standby. The team developed an innovative smart

plug with user-friendly modes to enable consumers to turn off appliances and

reduce energy waste when not in use, driving financial savings for consumer and

helping prevent emissions.

    - Water Management winner: [ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cRFlYMmP0Y ]

Koalas

    The Koalas developed an innovative new washing machine technology which

uses oxygen and cold water to clean garments more efficiently than ever before.

The new process which is proposed to be used in a future line of Beko washing

machines, reduces the need for high levels of detergent and hot water, thus

helping conserve water and energy.

    Beko will now work in collaboration with the nine challenge winners [

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRcz1-0ak-lpBaNlX3p48sy1e36NXxJbe ] as

well as with the Beko Special Award winners [

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRcz1-0ak-lpBaNlX3p48sy1e36NXxJbe ] to

commercialise their products with the top tier European accelerator, Startup

Wise Guys. This is on top of the €50,000 prize pool, that has been paid out to

the winners.

     Utku Barış Pazar, Chief Strategy and Digital Officer, Arçelik,

said: "Building upon the experience from the previous two hackathons, we are

proud to conclude Europe's largest sustainability hackathon, as well as the

first-ever carbon-neutral one, with the participation of over five hundred

attendees. This year, our mission for the event focused on the growing climate

crisis and the risks posed by every tenth of a degree of additional warming to

people, species, and ecosystems, making it urgent that we find effective ways

to decarbonize and  reduce emissions. As such, it has been inspiring to see

some of the brightest minds and forward thinkers coming together to create

solutions for issues that affect us all. We are proud to get over 700

applicants with 51 early-stage startups and bring 94 teams from over 70

countries together to act for the same purpose: to create ideas for a positive

impact on people and the planet."

    "Congratulations to all fourteen winners and all the participants for

showing what we can achieve when we come together and collaborate. We believe a

culture of collaboration and innovation is the most effective way to tackle

some of today's urgent environmental challenges, and this event has gone some

way to achieving this."

    Hosted by Beko and organized by media partners TNW and FT Talent, Hack the

Normal Sustainability empowered innovators to develop new technologies and

sustainable living solutions. The event also featured high-flying industry

leaders, entrepreneurs, academicians, and thought leaders including from WWF

anf UNDP, who shared their learnings and valuable insight as part of the

three-day hackathon.

    Notes to Editors

    About Beko:

    Beko is the international home appliance brand of Arçelik, which is a

multinational household appliances manufacturer that operates with 12 brands

and employs over 40,000 people worldwide. Beko is one of the top 3 large home

appliances brands in Europe*. The brand is FC Barcelona's main partner, naming

partner of Fenerbahçe Men's Basketball Team and official supplier of European

League of Legends Championship (LEC).

    Beko has been focusing on healthy living for years, raising awareness and

developing products that make healthy living possible and convenient. Beko's

brand mission is 'healthy living is only possible on a healthy planet'. Beko is

committed to protecting the planet by designing and manufacturing

energy-efficient products and investing in resource efficiency in production.

    For more information, please visit www.beko.com/  

    Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1820671/HTN_Official.jpg

    Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1820672/Beko_Logo.jpg

    Source: Beko