The Earthshot Nominations Prize

GoCodeGreen is a game-changing solution capable of accelerating global action to decarbonise the digital sector by supporting organisations to design, build, and operate more efficient digital products and services to reduce energy usage, support circular IT practices, and extend the lifespan of embodied emissions in IT devices. The company, founded by Eric Zie (CEO) builds awareness and empowers organisations with the skills required to tackle the carbon impact of their technology.

GoCodeGreen have already worked with 40 companies across five industry sectors and over 60 digital products. If all the actions identified were taken it would have resulted in a 56% reduction in carbon impact, with over 10,000 metric tonnes of CO2e not emitted, over 30 million kWh of energy not consumed, and over 13,000 metric tonnes of fossil fuels remaining in the ground, this would equate to over £4 million in energy-related cost savings.

‘This is the second year UEA are nominating GoCodeGreen because this solution has huge potential for climate impact. The new developments anticipated for 2024 are really exciting, with GoCodeGreen adding carbon impact calculations from for hardware to their software lifecycle assessments and offering a world-first biodiversity impact indicator for ICT and digital products and services.’ – Dr Colette Matthewman.

iBoxit is a novel solution developed by John Farley (CEO) and team on the Norwich Research Park in response to the requirement to reduce the environmental impact associated with the fishing sector. The company aims to create a replacement for expanded polystyrene boxes that are used to transport fish.

iBoxit have developed an alternative more environmentally sustainable packaging that uses an intricate mixture of existing plastic and plant-based composite. The new transportation box, which can be integrated into existing worldwide systems, maintains the same thermal properties as expanded polystyrene boxes, but is fully recyclable and reusable with a shelf life of 10 years. This solution has the potential to be adapted to facilitate the eradication of expanded polystyrene used globally by any industry. iBoxit are also developing an antimicrobial film and spray, made from a food waste product, which will enhance the shelf life of food products in transit, reducing food waste from this sector.

‘iBoxit’s ground-breaking packaging solution not only offers a sustainable alternative to the pervasive use of non-recyclable expanded polystyrene boxes but also sets a precedent for global industries to embrace eco-friendly packaging. By seamlessly integrating into existing fishing industry practice, iBoxit's approach demonstrates that sustainability can go hand-in-hand with practicality. The potential for this solution to extend beyond the fishing industry signifies a positive shift towards a more responsible and circular economy. I am proud to be part of a project that contributes significantly to reducing environmental impact while fostering long-term solutions for packaging and distribution challenges.’- Prof Sheng Qi

The Great Outdoor Gym Company’s (TGO) Greenest Greatest gym chain solution aims to revolutionise and decarbonise outdoor gyms worldwide through the creation of a network of energy saving and generating gyms that support tree planting, remove ocean plastic and empower communities to make sustainable lifestyle choices on their path to NetZero and optimum health.

TGO’s ‘Activate Earthshot’ gyms have solar roofs and power smart technology generating energy through a bespoke contactless motor capable of charging phones, feeding into the grid, or storing energy locally. TGO’s energy generating range has been featured at the United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP) 21 and 22, DIY SOS, Blue Peter, Grand Designs and The Chelsea Flower Show. This exciting concept also aims to integrate plastic removed from the oceans into gym flooring and to plant one tree per kWh energy generated.

Georgie Delaney, MBE, Founder and CEO of TGO estimates that with support from The Earthshot Prize, TGO could establish 300 ‘Activate Earthshot’ gyms over the next three years, generating 9000 kwh of energy a day, which equates to 3285000 kwh of energy per year.

Dr Natalie Porter, ClimateUEA Executive Officer, said: “We are very excited to have nominated The Great Outdoor Gym Company’s Greenest Greatest gym solution to The Earthshot Prize as we believe this concept has great potential to bring many environmental and social benefits to communities around the world and to the planet. UEA is pleased to be supporting sustainable solutions that are led and informed by women.”

GoCodeGreen offers the first and most complete carbon diagnosis and decisioning platform for software.
GoCodeGreen calculates the carbon emissions related to the production and operation of digital products and services. The measurement platform, based on GHG Protocol ICT Sector Guidance, is aimed at decarbonising software and the technology value chain that supports it.

‘GoCodeGreen are really exciting and leading in an otherwise unserved space. What they are doing has huge potential for climate impact as it's such a widely underpinning area. They have taken big strides already in a short period of time. I think it’s clear that they're a good candidate for the Earthshot Prize’ – Dr Colette Matthewman

“After spending 2 years committed to innovation and building a call to action, it is so motivational to be recognised and know that our mission and scale of impact resonates with world-leading experts involved in the Earthshot Prize nomination process.” – Eric Zie, GoCodeGreen CEO

‘We believe Q-Flow offer a very simple and elegant solution to a real-world problem which could have significant impact if scaled; material waste within the construction industry – a growing industry which is particularly un-green. UEA is also very pleased to be championing environmental solutions which are informed and led by women’ – Tracey Hearn, ClimateUEA Executive Officer

Q Flow have been nominated again for 2023 for their simple tool that helps developers and construction teams to better manage their materials and waste for a more circular, sustainable construction industry.

The construction industry consumes 40% of the worlds raw resources and is responsible for >40% global carbon emissions. Qflow is changing this. With improved tracking and management of materials coming onto site and waste leaving, they ensure construction and development teams use only the right materials in their projects; reducing waste, saving time and money spent correcting errors, and delivering more responsible, sustainable construction for all.

“It’s fantastic to be nominated for the Earth Shot Prize. Being part of such a fantastic community and engaging in deep discussions on the future of construction and the circular economy is helping us accelerate our impact and build a network to decarbonise our built environment!” – Brittany Harris, Qualis Flow CEO

Re-Fresh Global has the ambition to turn fashion and textile wastes into new resources. Through the re-use, re-make and re-cycle arms of their operation, they build a new type of circular economy with textile waste as the starting material. Their patented biotechnology that can transform shredded textile fibers into nanocellulose, ethanol, and sanitized textile pulp is truly transformative. I am looking forward to seeing Re-Fresh Global to bring their operation to scale which will bring immense amount of social, economic and environmental benefits to the communities embracing their disruptive technologies – Prof Sheng Qi

Re-Fresh Global are a team of designers, scientists, and business innovators tackling one of the biggest environmental challenges of our time. They are pioneering a fresh approach to textile waster.

Re-Fresh Global has developed a technology that can convert almost any kind of textile waste into three groups of raw materials: ethanol, nanocellulose and sanitized textile pulp, which can all be applied either back in fashion or in other industries.

“For a young startup it is of tremendous value to be recognized by the international community. Our vision is to be able to apply our solution everywhere where there is textile waste. The Earthshot Prize could become a crucial step towards fulfilling this vision” – Viktoria, Re-Fresh Global

‘The Plastic Road Company has engaged an intractable challenge of putting waste plastic to further use. By using plastic waste materials as a component of road surface composites not only is the plastic reused, but less hydrocarbon-based bitumen material is needed. Thus, carbon and waste issues are addressed in concert, and a superior more durable road surface created. A creative solution worthy of nomination for the Earthshot Prize’ – Prof Brian Reid

MacRebur uses waste plastics that cannot otherwise be recycled to replace the bitumen used in the asphalt mix used for road construction and surfacing.

MacRebur sources local waste plastics destined for landfill or incineration and incorporates them into asphalt used for road construction and surfacing. Granulating waste plastic into pellets before adding its patented activator, this blend of waste plastics replaces part of the bitumen binder found in asphalt. One tonne of asphalt produced in this way saves on average 10kg of CO2e compared to bitumen. Representing a truly circular process, at the end of their lifetime, these roads can be fully recycled.

Connected Energy use second life electric vehicle batteries. By extracting the value from the finite resources already embedded in them, they double their working lives. They are driven by helping to solve the challenges of the energy trilemma by disrupting the throwaway economy.

Pulpex is a unique, first-of-its-kind pulp packaging solution that uses technological innovation to deliver much-needed and highly anticipated eco-packaging category change. The patented technology enables brands to rethink their packaging proposition and achieve their sustainability goals.

FRAMERATE collects and presents work from thousands of daily 3D time-lapse scans of British landscapes, the work observes change on a scale impossible to see with the lens of traditional cameras.

The data collected and presented by FRAMERATE is ground-breaking scientific research, containing empirical, measurable facts.

HIPER Pile redefines deep foundations as low carbon, sustainable and reusable assets.

The HIPER Pile is a hollow pile foundation, and source of energy. Ordinary pile foundations create unnecessary waste as they cannot be reused. By creating a hollow pile, made of pre-cast components Keltbray have significantly reduced the concrete required, the hollow area can also be used as a source of energy for ground source heat pumps.

Qflow is a simple tool that helps developers and construction teams to better manage their materials and waste for a more circular, sustainable construction industry.

The construction industry consumes 40% of the worlds raw resources and is responsible for >40% global carbon emissions. Qflow is changing this. With improved tracking and management of materials coming onto site and waste leaving, they ensure construction and development teams use only the right materials in their projects; reducing waste, saving time and money spent correcting errors, and delivering more responsible, sustainable construction for all.