THE EARTH PRIZE
PARTICIPANT SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
Table of Contents
1. General Requirements
2. Timing and Structure
3. Submission Requirements
3.1 Registration Phase (11th January 2026 – 10th January 2027)
3.2 Submissions Phase (until January 31st 2027)
3.3 Scholar Phase (3rd March – 31st March 2027)
3.3.1 Supporting Materials (optional)
3.4 Regional Winner Phase (31st March – 2nd May 2027)3.4.1 Live Interview with the Adjudicating Panel
4. The Earth Prize Referencing Guide
4.1.1 Reference formatting
4.1.2 In-text footnote example
5. The Earth Prize Evaluation Criteria
5.1 Upon Registration
5.2 Submissions Phase5.2.1 Scholars Selection
5.3 Regional Winner Selection5.3.1 Scholar Submission Review
5.3.2 Structured Video
5.4 Regional Winner Selection Confirmation
Glossary of Terms
Regions: The seven regions are the following: (1) Oceania & Southeast Asia, (2) Asia, (3) the Middle East, (4) Africa, (5) Europe, (6) North America, and (7) Central & South America.
Scholar Submission: Scholar Submission is the improved and refined body of work that only the Scholar Teams are required to complete, building on the Earth Prize Blueprint they submitted at entry stage. It consists of four scored deliverables: 1) a Project Update, 2) a Budget & Next Steps plan, 3) a Structured Video (~2 minutes), and 4) an IP Self-Serve Worksheet, plus two unscored support packs (a Team & Individual Wellbeing Pack and a Media & Publicity Guide) provided for the team's own preparedness. It is designed to show iteration and follow-through on the original Blueprint, rather than repeating the validation work already completed.
Social Media Engagement Campaign: One of the components of the Regional Winners Phase, during which teams are asked to provide content, such as photos, video, or written material about their Project, for The Earth Foundation team to use in creating content to be shared through The Earth Prize social media channels, with the aim of raising awareness about their Project.
Supporting Materials: Any information (facts, statistics, definitions, etc.) which can help develop and/or justify the team’s submission(s).
Team: Any individual Participant or group of up to five (5) Participants registered together for The Earth Prize competition.
Team Lead: A team member designated by all members to be responsible for creating the team on The Earth Prize Submission Portal. The Team Lead may also have additional responsibilities, such as coordinating mentoring sessions and communicating with The Earth Prize team.
The Earth Foundation: The Swiss nonprofit organization planning and executing The Earth Prize.
The Earth Foundation Ambassador: The Earth Foundation Ambassador is a student (13–19) who represents The Earth Foundation in their school and community, driving new sign-ups. Ambassadors follow a one-year leadership journey: Elect, Ambassador, Country Rep, Global Youth Board, with a possible path to the Foundation Board. Ambassadors contribute across four areas: Outreach & Representation, Community Building & Peer Support, Content & Communications, and Programme Support.
The Earth Foundation Mentor: The Earth Foundation Mentor is a volunteer from a global community of university students, professionals, researchers, educators, retirees, and other passionate individuals who share their time, knowledge, and experience to support the next generation of environmental innovators. Mentors help participants build confidence, strengthen their ideas, develop their own solutions, and make the most of their experience throughout the programme. Guiding, challenging, encouraging, and inspiring, rather than designing or delivering projects on students' behalf. Mentors commit at least 1 hour per month, primarily through the Earth Foundation Discord community, following an onboarding process that includes a Kickstart Session and ongoing training.
The Earth Prize Adjudicating Panel: A group of world-renowned experts who will be in charge of judging Participants’ submissions to The Earth Prize competition and determining The Earth Prize Regional Winners.
The Earth Prize Blueprint: The Earth Prize Blueprint (formerly “The Fresh Idea”) is the detailed description of the proposed solution students need to work on and submit during the Submissions Phase of the competition. It is structured in seven (7) sections, moving from validation to idea to action: The Problem, Dig Deeper (Problem Discovery), Your Idea, Create, Validate Your Solution, Implementation & Funding, and The Pitch (Video). This structure requires students to show evidence of real-world engagement, talking to affected people and building something tangible, before their proposed solution is presented. This makes it a stronger safeguard against AI-generated submissions than a purely idea-first format.
The Earth Prize Regional Winner: A team representing each of the following regions—Oceania & Southeast Asia, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, North America, and Central & South America—whose submission has achieved outstanding standards according to The Earth Prize Adjudicating Panel.
The Earth Prize Scholar: The Earth Prize Participant whose submission has reached outstanding standards according to the evaluation criteria set by The Earth Foundation team.
1. General Requirements
Language
Starting with The Earth Prize 2026, registrations and submissions can be made in any language, and an integrated Al tool will be available to support participants throughout the process.
Submissions
Participants are required to enter all submissions through The Earth Prize Submission Portal. Incomplete or late submissions will not be accepted. Submissions cannot be changed after they have been submitted.
Citations and References
All submissions must adhere to rigorous standards of citation and referencing for source material, fully acknowledging all data, research, and opinion that is not original, using a consistent system. Participants must follow the referencing standards set up specifically for The Earth Prize and described in The Earth Prize Referencing Guide section of this document (see Section 6).
2. Timing and Structure
The Earth Prize is a multi-phase competition:
2.1 Open Registration Phase (11th January 2026 – 10th January 2027)
- Participants sign up individually via The Earth Prize onboarding page.
- Participants get access to The Earth Prize online platform, where they can attend workshops and events, and gain access to mentorship from The Earth Prize Mentors.
- Once registered, Participants nominate a Team Lead, who creates the team in The Earth Prize Submissions Portal and invites each teammate to join.
2.2 Submissions Phase (until 31st January 2027 at 12:00 PM CET)
- Student Teams submit their idea via The Earth Prize online submissions portal.
- The Team Lead makes one submission per team, adding teammates to the project as contributors.
- Participants submit their Earth Prize Blueprint.
2.3 Scholar Selection (1st – 25th February 2027)
- The Earth Prize’s team of expert Reviewers read and review submissions.
- Each project is independently reviewed three times.
2.4 The Earth Prize Scholars Announcement (3rd March 2027)
- All ideas submitted to The Earth Prize that reach outstanding standards, as determined by the final score ranking, will be recognized with The Earth Prize Scholars distinction and move on to the next phase of the competition.
2.5 Scholar Phase (3rd – 31st March 2027 at 12:00 PM CET)
- Scholars work on their Scholar Submission — consisting of a Project Update, a Budget & Next Steps plan, a Structured Video, and an IP Self-Serve Worksheet — building on their Earth Prize Blueprint, from 3rd March until the submission deadline on 31st March 2027 at 12:00 PM CET.
- Each Scholar Team is matched 1:1 with a Mentor from The Earth Prize Mentor community during this time to support them.
2.6 Regional Winner Phase (31st March – 2nd May 2027)
- The Adjudicating Panel receives the Scholar Submissions for review and evaluation.
- The Adjudicating Panel invites teams to take part in a live interview, used as a deeper probe into the team’s work rather than the sole basis for evaluation, since the Panel has already scored the submission materials directly.
- Following the interview, the Adjudicating Panel deliberates and confirms the seven teams as The Earth Prize Regional Winners.
2.7 The Earth Prize Regional Winners Announcement (3rd – 9th May 2027)
- The Earth Prize 2027 Regional Winners are announced on The Earth Prize website and social media.
2.8 Public Voting Phase (10th – 23rd May 2027)
- Public voting is open. Individual vote counts are not made public.
2.9 The Earth Prize Awards Ceremony (28th May 2027)
- The Earth Prize 2027 Global Winner is announced among the seven Regional Winners, as voted by the public.
3. Submission Requirements
3.1 Registration Phase (11th January 2026 – 10th January 2027)
The Earth Prize Website
Participants are required to register for The Earth Prize and join our The Earth Foundation Discord Community using the online onboarding page www.theearthprize.org/onboarding by providing the following information:
- Name and email of the Participant
- Date of birth
- School or Organization name and address
- City/Country
- Parent's or legal guardian's email address
Participants who are minors will also be asked to provide a parent or guardian's details so that parental consent can be obtained.
Upon completing registration (and, for minors, upon parental consent being granted), Participants will be granted access to The Earth Foundation Discord Community, our global network that surrounds The Earth Prize. It's designed to connect students, mentors, educators, experts, and alumni who are engaged in environmental sustainability. The community provides ongoing support, networking, and opportunities that extend beyond the competition itself. On the platform, Students will be able to ask questions to The Earth Foundation Mentors, and they will have access to educational content and events to enhance and develop their projects. The Earth Prize Submission Portal will be available to them, where they will be able to work on and submit their project.
All teams who have successfully completed their registration will be invited to the Submissions Phase. More detailed information about the Registration Phase requirements can be found in The Earth Prize Participant Submission Guidelines.
The Earth Prize Submissions Portal
The Submissions Portal is hosted on the Innovation Exchange platform. Registered Participants will receive the link to the portal once it opens. Students are invited to their team by their Team Lead directly on the submissions portal. Once the team is created, participants can start their submission.
3.2 Submissions Phase (From Registration to 31st January 2027 at 12:00 PM CET)
To participate in The Earth Prize, you need to confirm your participation by submitting your Earth Prize Blueprint in the submission portal and submitting your project.
Follow the steps below to submit your project:
- Access the submission portal. Your link will be provided to you as soon as the portal opens.
- Complete your Earth Prize Blueprint by answering the questions in our portal, ensuring all required sections are filled in.
- Upload any supporting materials or documents as needed.
- Press Submit before the deadline.
3.3 Scholar Phase (3rd March – 31st March 2027 at 12:00 PM CET)
During this phase, Participants will work on the elements listed below.
| Scholar Phase | Submission required from the team |
|---|---|
| Scholar Submission |
|
| Support Packs (unscored) |
|
3.3.1 Supporting Materials (optional)
Each team is allowed to submit a maximum of three (3) supporting documents (with up to six (6) pages each) that provide additional information (i.e. facts, figures, data, graphs, maps, etc.) and that might allow the reviewers to better understand the team's idea. The supporting materials can be in the following formats: PDF (.pdf); MS Word (.doc); MS Word (.docx); MS Excel (.xls); MS Excel (.xlsx); PowerPoint (.ppt); PowerPoint (.pptx); .png; .jpg; and .jpeg.
3.4 Regional Winner Phase (31st March – 2nd May 2027)
During this phase, Participants will work on the elements listed below.
| Regional Winner Phase | Submission required from the team |
|---|---|
| Live Interview | — |
3.4.1 Live Interview with the Adjudicating Panel
The seven Scholar teams proposed by the Adjudicating Panel to become the Regional Winners will participate in one-to-one mentoring sessions with The Earth Prize Mentors to help them prepare. Teams will then take part in a 20-minute live interview with the Adjudicating Panel — used as a deeper probe into the team's work rather than the sole basis for evaluation, since the Panel has already scored the submission materials directly. Use of translation devices or translator services is allowed. Students are required to include in their presentation the role each team member played in developing their Scholar Submission.
4. The Earth Prize Referencing Guide
Submissions to The Earth Prize must adhere to rigorous citation and referencing standards, properly acknowledging external data, research, and opinions in order to avoid plagiarism. Source referencing on The Earth Prize Submissions Platform must follow a particular footnote-based referencing standard specific to The Earth Prize competition.
4.1 Footnote referencing guidelines
Footnotes will be indicated in numerical order and in parenthesis after the content (paraphrased sentence, quote, data, etc.) to be cited. At the bottom of the submission’s page, Participants will find a box where they can list all their references, according to the corresponding footnote number. Each reference should include key information about the source such as the author, date of publication, title of the source, where to find it, etc. All sources included on the references’ list must match a footnote in the text. If Participants need to reutilize a source, they should simply use the same footnote number. If a specific piece of information is missing (author’s name, date of publication, etc.), Participants should provide enough information for the source to be easily identifiable. These referencing guidelines will be available to Participants on The Earth Prize Submissions Platform as well. Below are more detailed explanations of how to reference each type of source.
4.1.1 Reference formatting
Book
Author’s last name, initials. (Year of publication). Title of Book: Subtitle of the book. Location of publication: Publisher. URL: URL link (if applicable).
Example: (1) David Attenborough and Jonathan Hughes.(2020) A life on our planet: My witness statement and a vision for the future. New York: Grand Central Publishing.Book chapter
Author’s last name, initials. (Year of publication). “Title of the chapter” in Last name and initials of the author/s. (Ed./s) Title of the book: Subtitle of the book. Location of the publication: Publisher.
Example: (2) Vietz, G. J. and Finlayson, B. L. (2017) “Geomorphological effects of flow alteration on rivers” in Horne, A. C., Webb, J. A., Stewardson, M. J., Richter, B. and Acreman, M. (Eds.) Water for the environment: From policy and science to implementation and management. London: Academic Press.Peer-reviewed article
Author’s last name, initials. (Year of publication) Title of the article. Name of the journal, volume number, pp: pages (if applicable).
Example: (3) Matthews, C., Moran, F., and Jaiwal, A.K. (2021) A review on European Union’s strategy for plastics in a circular economy and its impact on food safety, Journal of Cleaner Production, Volume 283.Website article
Author’s last name and initials. (Year of Publication) Title of Article. Title of Website. [Online] URL: URL link. (Accessed: date when the website was accessed)
Example: (4) Toy, R. (2021) A legendary Arizona river is under threat. National Geographic. [Online] URL: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/a-legendary-arizona-river-is-under-threat (Accessed: July 19th, 2021)Website
Name of the website. Title of Section. [Online] URL: URL link. (Accessed: date when the website was accessed)
Example: (5) Example without author/date of publication: (5) Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Food loss and food waste. [Online] URL: http://www.fao.org/food-loss-and-food-waste/flw-data (Accessed: 10th August 2021)Online newspaper article
Author’s last name, initials. (Year of publication) Title of article. Name of Newspaper. URL (if applicable)
Example: (6) Sheriff, L. (2021) The scientists fighting to save the ocean’s most important carbon capture system. Washington Post. URL: https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solutions/2021/07/05/kelp-forests-destroyed-sea-urchins/Online PDF report
Author’s last name and initials OR Name of the organization. (Year of Publication) Title of the report. [Online] URL: URL link. (Accessed: date when the website was accessed)
Example: (7) Ellen MacArthur Foundation (2017) A new textiles economy: Redesigning fashion’s future. [Online] URL: https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/assets/downloads/A-New-Textiles-Economy_Full-Report_Updated_1-12-17.pdf (Accessed: 10th August 2021)Dictionary entry
Dictionary’s name. Word/Entry. Name of Newspaper. URL (if applicable)
Example: (6) Sheriff, L. (2021) The scientists fighting to save the ocean’s most important carbon capture system. Washington Post. URL: https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solutions/2021/07/05/kelp-forests-destroyed-sea-urchins/Video (Youtube, documentary, etc.)
Author’s last name and initials OR organization’s name (Publication date) Title of the video. Title of the website. URL: URL link
Example: (8) National Geographic (28 August 2017) Causes and effects of climate change. Youtube. URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4H1N_yXBiAPodcast
Host last name, initials. (Host). (Date of publication). Episode title (No. Episode number) [Audio podcast episode]. In Podcast name. URL: URL
Example: (9) Figueres, C. (Host) (July 3rd, 2021) Climate, fossil fuels and the future of Shell with Ben van Beurden. (No. 108) [Audio podcast episode] In Outrage + Optimism. URL: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9vdXRyYWdlYW5kb3B0aW1pc20ubGlic3luLmNvbS9yc3M/episode/ZTE1ZGI3NDUtYjgzYy00NTA5LWE4MTAtYTFlYWNlYjNlODE5?sa=X&ved=0CAUQkfYCahcKEwjA08GA2-7xAhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQAQ
4.1.2 In-text footnote example
This is an example of how the in-text footnote referencing style would look.
Plastic waste is one of the main environmental challenges of our time. The production and disposal of plastic is extremely harmful for the environment. (1) Moreover, most plastic does not fully disappear; it turns into tiny particles that can be swallowed by farm animals or fish and enter our food system. (2) Plastic waste ends up primarily in landfills and the ocean and causes severe damage to ecosystems. Shampoo bottles, an everyday plastic staple in most homes, greatly contributes to our plastic waste issue. Plastic shampoo bottles take an average of 450 years to decompose, and in the US, over 552 million shampoo bottles end up in our landfills annually. (5) Since our recycling efforts are ineffective, the negative consequences of shampoo bottles need to be tackled at the source in order to combat plastic waste.
References
(1) Harrabin, R. (2018) Should we burn or bury plastic waste? BBC News. URL: https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-43120041
(2) UN Environment Report (2018) Banning single-use plastic: lessons and experiences from countries. URL: https://www.unep.org/interactive/beat-plastic-pollution/
(3) Fisher, R. (2020) Nohbo, the Sustainable Company Taking Plastic Out of Your Bathroom. URL: https://globalshakers.com/nohbo-the-sustainable-company-taking-plastic-out-of-your-bathroom/
(4) Life Unpacked (2021) The Environmental Impact of Shampoo. URL: https://www.lifeunpacked.com/blogs/resources/the-environmental-impact-of-shampoo
(5) Brennan, K. (2019) An ocean of hope in a shampoo bottle. National Geographic. URL: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/partner-content-ocean-of-hope-in-a-shampoo-bottle
5. The Earth Prize Evaluation Criteria
The Earth Foundation is committed to ensure that the submissions’ evaluation is fair, open, unbiased and aligned with our vision and mission. All successfully submitted ideas will be reviewed by The Earth Foundation team and subsequently by The Earth Prize Adjudicating Panel, a group of highly renowned experts with backgrounds in corporate sustainability, academia, entrepreneurship, conservation, and communications. The evaluation process will take place in three (3) different stages. The evaluation criteria for each stage of the competition are outlined below.
5.1 Upon Registration
All teams that have successfully completed the Registration process on the website by 10th January 2027 will automatically enter the Submissions Phase of the competition.
5.2 Submissions Phase
5.2.1 Scholars Selection
At the Submissions Phase, all Earth Prize Blueprints submitted will be evaluated by The Earth Foundation team and a carefully selected panel of expert Reviewers according to the following criteria:
| Criteria | Points | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| Problem Validation | 5 | Is there clear evidence (research and stakeholder input) that this problem is real and matters to the people affected? |
| Proof of Concept | 5 | Has the team built or tested something tangible, shown evidence of learning from it, and demonstrated user engagement — either real usage/feedback, or a credible plan to get it in front of users if barriers exist? |
| Solution Quality | 4 | Does the idea logically and effectively respond to the validated problem; is it differentiated from existing approaches available to the stakeholder group, and has the team checked for existing IP/patents on similar solutions? |
| Next Steps & Commitment | 4 | Has the team laid out concrete next steps and identified who they need on their side (partners, allies, supporters) to move forward? |
| Feasibility & Planning | 4 | Is there a specific, itemised financial plan, and a realistic sense of what could go wrong and how they’d handle it? |
| Communication & Inspiration | 3 | Does the pitch clearly convey the idea and inspire confidence and excitement? |
Total: 25 points.
5.3 Regional Winner Selection
The Earth Prize Scholars are asked to submit their Scholar Submission, which will be forwarded to the Adjudicating Panel for the Regional Winners’ selection. The Adjudicating Panel will review the Scholar Submissions against the six criteria below, scored out of 25 points in total.
5.3.1 Scholar Submission Review
| Criteria | Points | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| Problem Validation | 5 | Is there clear evidence (research and stakeholder input) that this problem is real and matters to the people affected? |
| Proof of Concept | 5 | Has the project improved since shortlisting — evidence of a real iteration or new test. |
| Solution Quality | 4 | Does the idea logically and effectively respond to the validated problem; is it differentiated from existing approaches available to the stakeholder group, and has the team checked for existing IP/patents on similar solutions? |
| Next Steps & Commitment | 4 | Concrete, funded plan for the USD 10,000 specifically (Budget & Next Steps + video Beat 3). |
| Feasibility & Planning | 4 | Itemised budget and realistic risk sense (Budget & Next Steps). |
| Communication & Inspiration | 3 | Clarity and inspiration of the structured video overall (video Beats 1 & 4). |
Total: 25 points
5.3.2 Structured Video
Record one video, about 2 minutes long. Speak naturally, and film each answer in one take. Answer these four questions, in order:
- What’s the problem, in your own words? A quick, simple recap. You don’t need to explain everything again, just remind us what you’re solving.
- What’s changed since you submitted your Earth Prize Blueprint? Tell us what you’ve built, tested, or learned since then.
- If you win the USD 10,000, what will you spend it on, and what happens in the next 3–6 months? Be specific about your plan.
- Why does this excite you, and what would it look like if it works? Show us your passion for the project.
5.4 Regional Winner Selection Confirmation
The Scholar teams proposed by the Adjudicating Panel to become Regional Winners will participate in a live interview with the Adjudicating Panel, allowing the Panel to gain a better understanding of each Scholar Submission and confirm their selection. Scholar teams not selected for a live panel interview are instead evaluated via their Structured Video, which serves as the interview substitute.