Fungi Solutions’ packaging made from mushrooms has won the Circular Economy Innovation Community Champion category, and was awarded the Premier’s Recognition Award at the recent Premier’s Sustainability Awards in Melbourne.
Fungi Solutions’ innovation creates a material that can be used as a sustainable alternative to single-use plastics.
The start-up’s solution uses fungi to recycle and transform organic waste into home compostable products and packaging, all of which have the ability to be returned to the earth in just 12 weeks to enrich the soil, and improve the natural soil microbiome.
"Fungi Solutions are an example of innovation in action. They are providing a lateral and highly sustainable solution to an age-old problem of packaging waste,” Matt Genever, interim-CEO at Sustainability Victoria, told PKN.
"Their determination to make a broad impact across business and consumer markets is very exciting, especially for myself and my colleagues who have deep experience in the sustainability sector. I applaud Amanda and her team for their commitment to generating real change."
The Premier’s Sustainability Awards are Victoria’s most highly recognised annual sustainability awards program and celebrates the businesses, government bodies and community groups leading the way in sustainable innovation and practices.
There are two winners for each of the six categories, which were refreshed in 2021 to align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and the 12 winners this year have all showcased what can be achieved when innovation, passion, commitment and leadership combine.
This year’s Premier’s Sustainability Awards were delivered collaboratively by Sustainability Victoria on behalf of the Victorian government, along with the Banksia Foundation and Keep Australia Beautiful Victoria.
“This year’s entries demonstrated the sheer breadth of work being done in sustainability, and I congratulate all the winners for their tremendous achievements,” said Genever.
“It’s positive and uplifting to see how this awards program has gone from strength-to-strength over the past 20 years.”
To view the profiles of all winners and finalists, click here.
