Earthworks Appoints Gary MacDonald to Advisory Board

VANCOUVER, BC, Oct. 14, 2026 /CNW/ — Earthworks Industries Inc. (TSX-V: EWK, OTCQB: EAATF) ("Earthworks" or the "Company"), a critical minerals recycling and recovery company advancing modular systems designed to recover critical minerals and strengthen Western critical mineral supply chains, is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Gary MacDonald to its Advisory Board.

Mr. MacDonald brings more than 40 years of experience in merchant banking, investment banking, venture capital, clean technology, and the global natural resources and mining sectors. Throughout his career, he has held senior leadership and board positions involving projects and businesses across the Americas, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. His experience spans the full project development lifecycle, including due diligence, financing, development, operations, strategic partnerships, and mergers and acquisitions.

In 1998, Mr. MacDonald co-founded a Seattle-based venture capital firm and fund, with which he remains involved. He also founded GeoMinerals and GeoLogics Corporation, advancing technologies focused on environmental performance and operational efficiency, including work with the University of British Columbia and Johns Hopkins University. His previous executive roles include Interim Chief Executive Officer of International Water Corporation and Founder and Chief Executive Officer of NEOS Water.

Mr. MacDonald holds a Global Executive MBA from Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University, and a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of British Columbia.

David Atkinson, CEO of Earthworks, commented: "We are pleased to welcome Gary to the Earthworks Advisory Board. His extensive experience across capital markets, natural resources, technology development and corporate finance brings valuable perspective as we advance our critical minerals recycling and recovery business. Gary understands what it takes to move projects from development through commercialization, and we look forward to working with him as we build the business and pursue new opportunities."

Mr. MacDonald commented: "I am greatly impressed and encouraged by what Earthworks has accomplished so far this year, which I believe is a true reflection of its management team. I look forward to the opportunity of contributing and working alongside the Earthworks team to help advance the Company's vision."

The race to build and power artificial intelligence infrastructure, electrify transportation, modernize defense systems and expand advanced manufacturing has created an unprecedented and accelerating demand for critical minerals, including copper, rare earth elements, lithium, cobalt, nickel, tungsten, titanium and many other materials that form the physical foundation of the 21st-century economy.

The problem is supply. Refining and processing capacity for many of these materials is heavily concentrated in foreign jurisdictions, most significantly China, creating vulnerabilities in Western supply chains that are no longer theoretical, but active and urgent. Both Canada and the United States have responded with major policy commitments, including Canada's Critical Minerals Strategy and initiatives under the United States Defense Production Act and CHIPS and Science Act, directed at building domestic supply chain resilience.

Primary mining alone cannot close the supply gap quickly enough. New mine development frequently requires a decade or more to advance from discovery through permitting, financing, construction and production. This is where recycling and secondary recovery become strategically essential. Many of the materials required by Western economies already exist above ground in significant quantities within end-of-life electronics, industrial scrap, manufacturing byproducts, legacy mine waste, tailings, waste rock and other previously processed materials.

Through its acquisition of the Critical Minerals Recovery System, Earthworks holds a full-stack platform developed to address that need, beginning with copper and rare earth elements, and the intention to expand into battery metals, precious metals and defense-related materials across Canada and the United States.

This news release contains forward-looking statements. Actual results may vary materially from those described. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its regulation services provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

For further information regarding Earthworks Industries Inc., please contact: David Atkinson, President/CEO, 604-669-3143, info@earthworksinc.com. Investor Relations: Patrick Butler, 778-893-9850, patrick@trifectacapitalmarkets.com.