NESTA: waste reduction challenge prize

The National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA) invites submissions for its waste reduction challenge prize.

The Challenge

We are offering a prize for the innovation that achieves the biggest measureable reduction in waste, by providing new opportunities for communities to come together to give time, skills and resources.   

People who are part of communities are best placed to understand the needs, motivations and opportunities within these communities.  We think this makes them brilliantly placed to come up with great ideas that could prove to be highly effective.

The waste reduction challenge prize is not just about ideas, although good ideas will obviously help.  It’s about putting ideas into practice. 

The prize will be awarded for the innovation that achieves the biggest measurable reduction in waste by providing new opportunities for communities to come together to give time, skills and resources.

Judging Criteria

The successful Finalist will be the one that best meets the criteria outlined below, based on impact.  Additional information is provided in the FAQs andEntry Form.

1.   Innovation

We are looking for new approaches, or ideas combined or implemented in new ways.

2.   Waste Reduction

The winner/s will need to demonstrate significant measureable reductions in waste.  In selecting up to 25 competitors and when selecting the Finalists, we will be looking for potential to demonstrate waste.  Measureable reductions will need to be demonstrated by Finalists.

3.   Giving and engagement

The winner/s will need to demonstrate that they have created new opportunities for people to give time, skills and resources to reduce waste, including for people who are new to giving.  In selecting up to 25 competitors and when selecting the Finalists, we will be looking for potential to create new opportunities for giving.  Evidence will need to be demonstrated by Finalists.

4.   Other Social Impacts

Judges will also consider the wider social impact of the idea, for example effects on air quality, biodiversity or public safety impacts, or impact on social connections

5.   Potential for sustainability

We are looking for ideas that can be sustained to continue to have significant impact on waste reduction, beyond the life of the Prize.

6.   Potential for scale

We are looking for ideas that have the potential to grow, be replicated or transfer to another context.

Approximately five finalists will receive up to £10,000 to develop and test their projects over a period of six months, at the end of which one overall winner will be awarded £50,000.

For more information see the call page: http://www.nesta.org.uk/areas_of_work/challengeprizes/givingchallenges/assets/features/waste_reduction_challenge_prize