The $100K Earth Prize 2026: 17-year-old Brazilians named Central and South America Winners for biodegradable aloe and chamomile bandages

• The Earth Prize is the world’s largest environmental competition and ‘ideas incubator’ for 13-19-year-olds, empowering young people with mentorship and $100K funding 
• 17-year-olds Bernardo Renner and Ísis Valentin created a biodegradable aloe vera and chamomile dressing that replaces plastic bandages and supports natural healing
• Seven Winners will be announced each day this week, representing the regions of North America, Africa, Asia, Central and South America, Oceania and Southeast Asia, Europe and the Middle East
• Each team receives $12.5K to develop and implement their idea for real life impact
• A public vote will crown the Global Winner on 29 May

GENEVA, Switzerland, 17 May - In an effort to tackle plastic waste in healthcare, 17-year-olds Bernardo Renner and Ísis Valentin from Brazil have been named the Central & South America Winners of The Earth Prize 2026. Their solution, HADA, is a biodegradable dressing made from aloe vera and chamomile to support healing and replace conventional plastic bandages.

The idea for Hada began on the volleyball court. As active players, Bernardo and Ísis were used to frequent cuts and injuries, often treated at school with basic first aid that simply covered wounds without supporting recovery. This personal frustration led them to explore better solutions, which soon expanded into a wider global challenge: an estimated 2.2 billion plastic bandages were discarded in 2023 alone, contributing to microplastic pollution and offering limited medical benefit.

In response, they developed a plant-based bio-dressing using aloe vera and camomile, combining their well-established antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and regenerative properties into a single material. Unlike conventional plastic bandages, which merely cover wounds and contribute to microplastic pollution, HADA actively promotes tissue repair while remaining fully biodegradable, breaking down in soil within 48 hours. Designed using accessible, locally sourced ingredients, the solution is scalable and environmentally sustainable.

Already developed into working prototypes, Hada has demonstrated strong adhesion, flexibility, and antimicrobial performance in early testing. The team has produced four research papers and is now seeking a robust laboratory structure and advancing regulatory pathways, working alongside several experts: Instituto Caldeira, one the largest innovation hubs in south Brazil, Prado Tech in Gravataí, and Carlos Johannpeter, a renowned Brazilian entrepreneur.

With the support, and now $12.5K funding, from The Earth Prize, they aim to further validate and enhance the technology, scale production, and bring the bio-dressing into real-world settings such as schools, sports centres, and healthcare environments.

Ísis and Bernardo added:

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.

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:

Public voting for the Global Winner opens on Monday 18 May, the day after the final Regional Winner is announced. Cast your vote on The Earth Prize website: www.theearthprize.org/vote.