The No Waste Challenge 2021: (Deadline 1 April 2021)

The No Waste Challenge presented by What Design Can Do and the IKEA Foundation is now open for submissions. This global design competition focuses on addressing the enormous impact of waste and consumerism on climate change. It is looking for radical new ideas and design-driven solutions to reduce waste and rethink our entire consumption and production cycle.

Benefits

• The winners of the No Waste Challenge will be selected by an international jury of leading experts in design, climate action and social entrepreneurship.
• Next to a prize fund of €10.000 each, the centerpiece of the award package is the development programme designed to support the winning teams in further strengthening and scaling up their projects.
• Each winner will get the chance to present their projects to a global audience during one of WDCD’s annual events on design and innovation.
• Besides gaining access to the extensive network of change-makers, winning teams will also receive valuable press coverage and media exposure through WDCD’s channels and those of the partners.

Criteria 

The No Waste Challenge is focused on impact, creativity and innovation, and is seeking a diversity of projects. This means you are welcome to submit projects of various scales, team sizes, and stages of development — from new ideas to existing enterprises.

All proposals are required to fit at least one of three global design briefs. Or, if you’re applying from Amsterdam, Delhi, Mexico City, Nairobi, São Paulo & Rio or Tokyo, you can apply to one of the city tracks, fitting the design brief specific to waste in your city.

To get started, learn more about the scope of the challenge, or check out the three design briefs available to participants.