• Launched in 2020 by Prince William, The Earthshot Prize is the world’s most prestigious environmental prize.

• Following a rigorous selection process, a panel of advisors with expertise in science, conservation, innovation, investment, economics, politics and activism selected Circ®  from more than 1,100 nominations.

Circ and the 14 other innovators honored as Earthshot Finalists represent six continents and were chosen from more than 1,100 nominees. Each of the Finalists will be in the running to receive one of five £1 million prizes awarded at the third-annual Earthshot Prize awards ceremony in Singapore later this year.

Circ’s innovative recycling technology is addressing the fashion industry’s carbon footprint – which accounts for 10% of global carbon emissions. The fashion industry diverts 92 million tonnes of textiles to incinerators or landfills each year, and less than one percent of textile waste is recycled into new clothing. Further, the production of new clothing is resource-intensive with cotton production using 3.3 million acres of land and six billion cubic metres of water annually, and polyester production requiring the use of 70 million barrels of oil each year. 

Circ is the only platform to successfully separate polycotton blended textile waste and recover both cellulosic and synthetic fibres. The company’s patented hydrothermal process turns polyester fibres in polycotton into a liquid, completely separating them from cotton fibres. Preserving and separating the polyester without damaging the cotton allows both materials to be reused in the production of new textiles, while also reducing carbon emissions substantially.

“At Circ, we’ve put our heart and soul into our technology because we see innovation as a crucial component to addressing key drivers of the climate crisis. So, to have our work recognized by The Earthshot Prize is deeply validating,” said Peter Majeranowski, CEO of Circ. “With the support of the fellowship program, we look forward to the opportunity to further our impact and continue to support solution-oriented change within the fashion industry.” 

Founded by Prince William in 2020, The Earthshot Prize aims to discover and help scale the world’s most innovative climate and environmental solutions to protect and restore our planet. The Prize is centered around five ‘Earthshots,’: simple but aspirational goals to ensure our communities, oceans and ecosystems can thrive together in harmony for generations to come: 1) Protect & Restore Nature; 2) Clean Our Air; 3) Revive Our Oceans; 4) Build A Waste-free World and 5) Fix Our Climate.

In addition to their eligibility for the £1 million prize, all Finalists will receive mentorship, resources and technical support from The Earthshot Prize Fellowship Program, a year-long programme for each cohort of 15 Finalists to accelerate the growth of their groundbreaking solutions. That support includes access to the Prize’s robust network of influential businesses, investors, and climate experts, including The Earthshot Prize’s Global Alliance of Partners, which is comprised of some of the world’s largest businesses, donors, investors and environmental organizations committed to climate action.