2026 Earthshot Prize Nomination

Mushroom Material has been nominated for the 2026 Earthshot Prize, one of the world's most prestigious environmental awards, led by Prince William and The Earthshot Prize Trust.

The nomination was made by Victoria University of Wellington, one of only two official Earthshot Prize nominators in New Zealand. Mushroom Material is one of six New Zealand climate solutions put forward this year, selected from a field of remarkable applicants representing the best of Kiwi innovation.

The Earthshot Prize awards five winners each year, with each receiving £1 million (approximately NZD $1.9 million) in funding. Winners are selected across five goals or ‘Earthshots’: Protect and Restore Nature, Clean our Air, Revive our Oceans, Build a Waste-Free World, and Fix our Climate. This year's finalists will be announced in September, with winners revealed at a ceremony in Mumbai in November.

Mushroom Material was nominated in recognition of its mycelium-based pellet technology, a fully biodegradable alternative to expanded polystyrene that integrates directly into existing packaging moulding equipment. The approach allows manufacturers to replace EPS without changing their machinery, supply chains, or production processes.

Andrew Wilks, Director of Sustainability at Victoria University of Wellington, said the nominated solutions were chosen because of their potential for real-world impact.

"Every single one has the power to change the world. They're affordable, immediately scalable, and could create true global transformation."

The nomination also carries the backing of the Sustainable Business Network, whose Next List exists to elevate New Zealand's most promising innovators. James Griffin, General Manager at Sustainable Business Network, said:

"World-class sustainable innovation is already emerging in Aotearoa New Zealand, not as distant ideas, but as practical, scalable solutions solving real problems right now."

Mushroom Material joins five other New Zealand nominees including Critical., KiwiEconet,  AgriZeroNZ, Mountains to Sea Wellington Trust, and Sea Cleaners.

The Earthshot Prize has global reach. In 2023, Victoria University of Wellington's nominee Sea Forest Ltd made the global shortlist of fifteen finalists, demonstrating the calibre of New Zealand innovation on the world stage.

The nomination has also drawn recognition closer to home. TechAuckland, the economic development arm of Auckland Council, covered the story following Mushroom Material's appearance at New Zealand's first national Cleantech Expo in April, where the company was one of 32 clean technology exhibitors showcasing solutions to global environmental challenges.

For Mushroom Material, the nomination arrives at a pivotal moment. The company is preparing to raise a Series A to scale production globally and is actively seeking strategic customers and investors.

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