The Earth Prize 2026: Vietnamese teenage sisters named among top 35 global teams in $100K global competition for upcycling denim project

• The Earth Prize is the world’s largest environmental competition and incubator for young people, equipping 13-19 year olds with mentorship, resources and funding
• Since 2021, the prize has reached 21,000 students, across 169 countries and territories, and awarded over $500K to turn ideas into impact
• Each year, 35 top-contender teams are selected as Scholars, representing seven global regions and the most promising youth-led solutions worldwide
• From 11–17 May, seven Regional Winners will be announced, each receiving $12.5K to accelerate their innovation in the real world
• Team Fern from Vietnam is turning industrial denim waste into bags while helping disabled artisans gain work

GENEVA, Switzerland, 10 April 2026 - Two teenage sisters from Vietnam have been named among the top 35 global teams in The Earth Prize 2026, the world’s largest environmental competition and incubator for young people aged 13-19 years. Representing the region of Oceania & Southeast Asia, Nguyễn Phương Anh and Nguyễn Lan Anh (also known as Patricia and Adelaide) have created ‘Fern’, a project that turns industrial denim waste into bags while simultaneously creating jobs for artisans with disabilities.

After learning that 92 million tonnes of textile waste are produced globally each year, the sisters set out to create a solution. Their first idea, upcycling baby clothes, proved difficult to scale due to inconsistent supply, leading them to search for a more reliable source of raw materials. They identified denim, one of the industry’s most resource-intensive fabrics, which can generate up to 15% pre-consumer waste. Through partnerships with local factories, they sourced high-quality denim offcuts to launch Fern, transforming this waste into premium bags. Inspired by their mother’s strong sense of community, the sisters have embedded inclusivity into the project by creating meaningful employment opportunities for artisans with disabilities.

While Fern currently specialises in denim bags, the team plans to launch a Mini Fern Line in 2027, using smaller fabric offcuts to create items such as keychains and pouches. This next phase will help ensure that every piece of fabric is put to use, further strengthening Fern’s commitment to sustainability and circular design.

Nguyễn Phương Anh and Nguyễn Lan Anh impressed The Earth Prize’s expert jury with their projects, forming two of the five teams selected to represent Oceania and Southeast Asia.

Now in its fifth year, The Earth Prize has reached over 21,000 students across 169 countries and territories. Previous winners have been featured in leading international media including Forbes, Business Insider (US and Africa), The Irish Times, and UN Today, with several teams advancing their ideas through patents and corporate partnerships.

This year’s teams represent seven global regions: Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Central and South America, the Middle East, and Oceania and Southeast Asia. Their solutions span a wide range of innovations, from an ocean-cleaning robot, to fog-powered drinking water, and an AI-driven drought predictor.

The Earth Prize is run by The Earth Foundation, a non-profit based in Geneva, Switzerland, founded during the School Strike for Climate in 2019. At a time when climate anxiety affects a majority of young people - 59% reporting they are very or extremely worried about the environment - the Prize provides a pathway from concern to action, equipping students with the tools to develop tangible, real-world solutions.

Peter McGarry, Founder of The Earth Foundation, commented on this year’s competition:

The next stage of the competition will see seven Regional Winners announced from 11–17 May, each representing one of the seven global regions and receiving $12.5K to accelerate their innovation. This will be followed by a public vote, with the global winner announced on Friday 29 May.