2025 Sustainable Business Awards

Mushroom Material was invited to pitch at the SBN Awards in the Next Big Thing session. Only five companies were selected to present their vision for the future of sustainable innovation in New Zealand.

The audience included business leaders, investors, innovators and policymakers, all focused on how to scale solutions that can shift industries.

Our three minute pitch shared how we turn agricultural waste into practical, compostable packaging that can replace expanded polystyrene. The room then cast their votes for the company with the strongest potential for impact, innovation and scale.

We were voted the winner and crowned the Next Big Thing 2025. 

You can watch the full pitch, shared by Sustainable Business Network, here.

Later that evening, Mushroom Material also received a commendation for Disruptive Innovation at the Sustainability Awards. The moment we received the commendation is available here, time stamped from 1:12:15.

The work was further recognised in a feature article by The Post, highlighting the broader context and momentum behind Mushroom Material. We were also included in NZ Business as part of a wider piece on Kiwi companies driving meaningful change across the business landscape

Thank you to everyone who backed us, asked sharp questions and believed in the direction we are heading. The support means a lot to our team.

We also want to thank James Griffin, General Manager of the Sustainable Business Network, for inviting us to present. We are grateful to Zoe Koch from NZI and Vincent Heeringa from Better Aotearoa for guiding the session, and to the full organising team for the platform. 

The prize package, which includes the sustainability audit, media feature, tailored mentorship and the cash prize, will help us move faster on the work ahead.

If you want to follow our progress or explore ways to work together, get in touch.

Mushroom Material is a sustainable packaging company that has created a breakthrough mycelium-based material, combining strength, thermal and acoustic insulation, and home compostability to replace expanded polystyrene styrofoam (EPS). Its mycelium-based pellets work in standard EPS moulds, swapping plastic for biomaterial without disrupting production.

Mushroom Material is invested by SEEDS Capital, an investment arm under SG Growth Capital.