The Earthshot Prize
Can these bold solutions help rebuild our world?
Imagine a world where waste becomes nourishment and roads capture carbon. Deloitte proudly supports The Earthshot Prize – an initiative identifying, celebrating and backing ambitious climate leadership from every corner of the globe.
In one corner of Nairobi, a regenerative process using black fly larvae is turning organic waste into high-value fertiliser – a circular economy solution with the power to reshape how cities handle waste. And on the other side of the world, carbon-capturing asphalt is being laid on test roads, with the potential to trap emissions across thousands of miles of UK infrastructure.
“There are lots of promising climate and nature solutions being developed across the world. Through The Earthshot Prize, we help the finalists amplify their impact and scale their solutions.”
Smruti Naik-Jones, Chief Sustainability Officer, Deloitte NSE
With temperatures rising and biodiversity declining, these are the kind of ideas the climate crisis demands. In the words of Jason Knauf, CEO of The Earthshot Prize, "’the Prize exists to champion the game-changers, the makers, the creatives, the leaders. And when they win, we all win.’’
As members of the Global Alliance for The Earthshot Prize, and part of the business community, we want to turn this inspiration into action through a new kind of collaboration.
We support the scale-up of The Earthshot Prize Finalists and Winners, through pro bono advice which helps them to realise their ambition and maximise their impact. Deloitte is also an implementation partner for The Earthshot Prize, helping to evaluate innovative solutions.
“There are lots of promising climate and nature solutions being developed across the world”, says Smruti Naik-Jones, Chief Sustainability Officer, Deloitte NSE. “Through The Earthshot Prize, we help Finalists amplify their impact and scale their solutions.”
Being the change
Through our reach and influence, we aim to create a halo effect, accelerating progress to a sustainable future by taking a more holistic approach through the relationships we have, the investments we make, including in The Earthshot Prize, and the work we do with our clients and suppliers.
We're not only helping them scale, we’re also making direct investments in selected solutions from The Earthshot Prize Finalists through grants and pro bono support,” says Smruti.
Through Deloitte’s Beyond Value Chain Mitigation programme, we provide investment equivalent to our scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions to help reduce and remove emissions beyond our value chain. This means we provide pro bono support and finance (through a combination of direct funding and carbon credits) to a diverse portfolio of high-impact climate solutions and projects to help achieve societal net-zero.
We also look to leverage our sphere of influence, by making connections between The Earthshot Prize Finalists, clients, suppliers and sectors. Deloitte supported Notpla, a seaweed-based packaging start-up, to make connections with key suppliers. Notpla products soon entered football stadiums, and Deloitte canteens. Notpla saw an opportunity for change and created a plastic-free, biodegradable seaweed alternative.
“We recognise that climate change requires a systemic approach”, Smruti continues. “As a large organisation, we’re constantly asking ourselves, ‘is there something more we could be doing?’”
From possibility to progress
From leather alternatives in the fast fashion industry to solutions like MiAlgae, which is ending the reliance on wild-caught fish for fishmeal, Deloitte is championing The Earthshot Prize Finalists to scale, and make connections to advance nature-positive outcomes.
Whether it’s turning waste into valuable resources or revolutionising sustainable packaging, the stories of The Earthshot Prize innovators are a testament to what's possible when vision meets dedication. We are proud to stand alongside these changemakers, leveraging our reach and expertise to help accelerate their journey from promising concepts to potential widespread impact.
