Awards

Civil Water Management Nominated for The Earthshot Prize

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On November 11, 2026
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Yorkshire Drainage Technology Specialists Receive Major Recognition with The Earthshot Prize Nomination

Civil Water Management Ltd (CWM), the Yorkshire-based engineering company pioneering the transformation of end-of-life tyre rubber into sustainable water management infrastructure through its innovative Modular Drainage Systems (MDS) technology, is celebrating a major milestone after being nominated by Innovate UK for The Earthshot Prize, one of the world’s most prestigious environmental awards.

Founded by Prince William in 2020, The Earthshot Prize recognises groundbreaking solutions with the potential to address some of the planet’s most pressing environmental challenges.

CWM’s nomination under the Build a Waste-Free World Earthshot recognises its pioneering approach to transforming end-of-life tyre rubber into sustainable, long-life drainage infrastructure, combining circular material reuse with improved water management and environmental protection, while helping safeguard one of the planet’s most valuable resources — water.

Carl Hopkins, Managing Director of Civil Water Management, expressed his delight:

“We are absolutely thrilled to have been nominated for The Earthshot Prize by Innovate UK. This is an extraordinary moment for CWM and an incredibly proud achievement for everyone who has been involved in developing and bringing Modular Drainage Systems Technology to market.

“To receive recognition associated with such a prestigious global environmental initiative is simply fantastic. We have invested years of determination, technical development and sheer hard work into challenging conventional approaches to drainage engineering.”

The nomination has also been warmly welcomed by Rosehill Group, the specialist Yorkshire-based polymer technology manufacturer responsible for manufacturing CWM’s Modular Drainage Systems.

Dr Alex Celik, Managing Director of Rosehill Group, commented:

“As the manufacturer of Civil Water Management’s Modular Drainage Systems, we are extremely proud to support Carl and the team at CWM and the tremendous progress they have made in developing and bringing this innovative technology to market.

“The Earthshot Prize nomination is thoroughly deserved and represents wonderful recognition of the vision, commitment and determination behind MDS. We are delighted to be part of this journey and look forward to supporting CWM as the technology progresses towards wider adoption and international growth.”

Carl Hopkins added:

“Our ambition has never been simply to produce another drainage product. We believe we have developed a technology capable of fundamentally changing how infrastructure manages water, while creating a valuable, long-term destination for a major global waste material.

“We have already demonstrated what MDS can achieve on live projects, but the opportunity ahead is considerably greater. This nomination is a tremendous boost for the whole team and reinforces our determination to establish MDS as a recognised technology both in the UK and internationally.

For us, this is only the beginning.“

End-of-Life Tyres A Major Global Issue

Turning a global waste challenge into an environmental opportunity

More than one billion tyres reach the end of their useful lives globally every year, presenting an enormous challenge for sustainable material management.

MDS addresses this challenge by transforming recovered tyre rubber into durable, highly permeable drainage components capable of providing essential water-management functions across a wide range of infrastructure applications.

The technology offers an innovative alternative to conventional drainage construction, with the potential to reduce excavation, imported materials, construction disruption and the environmental impact associated with traditional drainage methods.

Importantly, MDS demonstrates how materials traditionally viewed as waste can be repurposed into valuable, long-life infrastructure that contributes positively to environmental protection.

Beyond highways and rail, CWM is exploring opportunities for MDS to support wider applications in agriculture, land drainage and the protection of natural watercourses and surrounding landscapes.
This combination of circular material reuse and improved water management is central to CWM’s Earthshot proposition.

A strong manufacturing partnership supporting future growth

The partnership between Civil Water Management and Rosehill Group provides a strong foundation for the continued commercial development and expansion of Modular Drainage Systems Technology.

Rosehill brings extensive expertise in specialist polymer manufacturing, supported by established production capabilities and international infrastructure.

With a long history of transforming recovered rubber into engineered products, Rosehill is well positioned to support CWM’s ambition to establish MDS as a recognised and widely adopted infrastructure technology.

The partnership combines CWM’s drainage engineering expertise, technical development and commercial strategy with Rosehill’s specialist manufacturing capabilities, providing an established platform for future growth.

Transport for Greater Manchester: Trackside at Newton Heath

The Earthshot Prize: an opportunity for global impact

The Earthshot Prize was established to accelerate environmental solutions capable of delivering significant positive change by 2030.
 
Each year, 15 finalists are selected across five environmental categories, with five eventual winners each receiving £1 million to help develop and scale their solutions.
 
Beyond financial recognition, the programme provides access to an international network of expertise, partnerships and opportunities to accelerate environmental innovation.
 
For CWM, the nomination represents an opportunity to demonstrate how technology developed in Yorkshire could contribute to a much wider transformation in infrastructure delivery.
 
With extensive road and railway networks, expanding urban development and increasing global pressures on water resources, the potential for sustainable drainage technology is considerable.

Supported by Rosehill Group’s established manufacturing capabilities, CWM’s ambition is to continue building the Modular Drainage Systems category, driving wider industry recognition and adoption of MDS as a credible, sustainable alternative to traditional drainage methods.
 
The company’s vision is clear: transforming a global waste challenge into an opportunity to protect one of the planet’s most precious resources – water.

Get in touch. Find out more about how Civil Water Management can help to unlock the engineering advantage for your next project.

To talk to our specialist drainage team call 0203 189 1468 or email in**@******************nt.com

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