MAKE IT CIRCULAR CHALLENGE

The Make it Circular Challenge launched in partnership with the IKEA Foundation, calling on designers, creative entrepreneurs and startups from around the world to envision and build a circular society. The open call received over 650 entries by creative entrepreneurs in more than 50 countries. A selection committee with experts in circular design, climate action and social impact will now review every entry and collaborate on a shortlist of 50 most promising projects.

On 30 March, we’ll announce the nominees, and a fresh group of jury members will begin another intensive selection process to decide on 13 winners worldwide.

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ENVISIONING A CIRCULAR SOCIETY

Most economies today are based on a linear model, where value is created by producing and selling as many products as possible. The problem is, it operates on the assumption that infinite growth is possible on a finite planet. Today, we are seeing just how wrong this assumption was, as we face an accelerating climate crisis.

Yet when looking ahead at the route to a circular society, many people only see obstacles that they would rather not or cannot take on. One of the most important challenges is to convince them that we can create a new world which makes our lives not less but even more fulfilling.

The ability to imagine is the creative community’s ideal domain: seeing what does not yet exist, taking on a challenge, forging ahead with optimism. We have an opportunity to shape a radically different future: one that’s restorative and regenerative by design. A circular society takes the circular economy one step further and considers the social and ethical dimensions of how people live their lives, from sun-up to sun-down. That’s why the Make it Circular Challenge asks designers to deliver new materials or technologies — and create new possibilities.