Better together - Round two at Greenwich University

Syntech Biofuel has just wrapped up our second Hackathon of the year with the Generator, University of Greenwich, and if I thought the first one set the bar high, this one not only matched it… it blew straight past it.

The energy across the two days in Cooper House by the bottom gates at Greenwich Park, on the Thames in London was impressive. You could feel the ambition, the curiosity, the problem-solving, and the sheer belief that sustainability isn’t just something we talk about, it’s something we build.

This time, 41 brilliant students from Business, CMS, and Engineering came together, rolled up their sleeves, and got stuck into some of the toughest circular-economy challenges we could throw at them. And I don’t say “brilliant” lightly. Their creativity, practicality, optimism and attitudes were genuinely impressive.

We asked them to rethink waste streams. We asked them to design community-centred closed-loop systems. We asked them to create scalable, real-world, commercially viable solutions. And we asked them to use tech, behavioural insight, and ingenuity to push sustainability forward.

And they delivered.

And so did the pizza company. What we learnt from our first hackathon was that young minds seem to be even more creative with a bellyful of pizza. So we ordered a ton of it.

From plastic reduction to used cooking oil innovations to algae-based concepts, food waste and even tackling tap-water contaminants… every team showed exactly the kind of thinking we need for the future. Fresh ideas. Brave ideas. Ideas with substance. Ideas that prove the next generation isn’t just aware of the circular economy, they’re ready to lead it.

The standard of work was so high that we offered to welcome the winning team back for a follow-up session over a lunch with us to dive even deeper into their concept. And if the Hackathon is anything to go by, that conversation is going to be something special.

These events matter to us at Syntech. They’re more than workshops. More than competitions. They’re a living example of what happens when education and industry come together with purpose. They remind us why collaboration is powerful, why community is essential, and why innovation thrives in environments where everyone feels able to share, stretch, challenge, and dream.

A massive thank you again to Lynette for steering the ship so expertly, and to Yvette, Christy, Chryssi, Lea, and Henry for making the whole thing run seamlessly.

And of course, to every single student who participated. Your energy, commitment, and positivity made the weekend what it was.

This was our second Hackathon with the University of Greenwich in a year, and I can say with complete confidence, it won’t be our last. The ideas, the passion, the professionalism and the optimism these students bring give us huge faith in the innovators, engineers, thinkers, leaders, and changemakers of tomorrow.

Together, we’re not just imagining a better future, we’re building one.

Because as always… It’s your vibe that attracts your tribe.

Story by Syntech Biofuel