Award Categories
Materials
This award honors breakthroughs in advanced materials that replace wasteful, inefficient, or toxic alternatives. Whether it’s biodegradable plastics, high-performance recycled composites, or next-gen biomaterials, this category recognizes innovators who are reinventing the very building blocks of industry.
The materials we use define the products we create, and for too long, industries have relied on resource-intensive and short-lived materials that end up as waste. Smarter materials mean stronger, longer-lasting, and more cost-effective solutions—not just for the environment, but for businesses that want to stay competitive in an evolving marketplace.
Collection & Processing
This category recognizes advancements in manufacturing, collection, and end-of-life processes that reduce waste, increase efficiency, and create circular supply chains. It includes waste-to-value innovations, closed-loop manufacturing, and smarter production techniques that minimize material loss and energy use.
Traditional manufacturing often bleeds profitability through material waste, costly collection processes, and inefficient end-of-life strategies. Innovators in this space are eliminating these hidden costs, designing systems that capture more value from materials, streamline recovery, and create products with built-in second lives.
Product Design
This award celebrates products that are designed with circularity in mind—built to be modular, repairable, reusable, or fully recyclable. From electronics and furniture to apparel and consumer goods, this category recognizes creators who rethink the entire lifecycle of a product from inception to reuse.
A well-designed product doesn’t just work—it lasts, adapts, and holds value over time. The world is moving away from disposable, short-term thinking, and the businesses leading the way are those that design products to be assets, not liabilities. Circular product design isn’t just about sustainability—it’s about building smarter, longer-lasting solutions that make sense for both consumers and the bottom line.
Packaging
This award spotlights the future of packaging—whether it’s recyclable, compostable, reusable, or designed to eliminate waste entirely. It recognizes game-changing approaches that enhance product protection, streamline logistics, and reduce environmental impact without sacrificing performance.
Packaging is essential, but traditional solutions are often expensive, wasteful, and increasingly unpopular with consumers. Companies that rethink packaging aren’t just helping the planet—they’re reducing costs, improving brand loyalty, and staying ahead of regulatory shifts. The smartest businesses know that the best packaging delivers value while leaving nothing behind.