The Emmaus ReMake Prize Contest is more than just a competition. It is a whole program of activities that emerged from Emmaus Fredriksdal’s (read more about the organization) desire to reuse materials from the furniture, textiles, ceramics, clothes, toys and other stuff that they receives as donations but might be of low quality. With this contest Emmaus Fredriksdal wants to showcase how we can move beyond a linear economy where old stuff is thrown in a landfill towards a more sustainable circular economy.

The ReMake program, of which Emmaus ReMake Prize Contest is just a part, has been divided into three phases

STAGE 1. WORKSHOPS
This stage lasted for 5 months and was a precursor to the contest. The purpose of the workshops is to inspire people from all walks of life to learn practical skills that are relevant for upcycling waste and for participating in the Emmaus ReMake Prize Contest (more below). Here is a list of the workshops we held: http://www.eventbrite.com/o/emmaus-fredriksdal-amp-lunds-oppna-verkstad-10775505207

STAGE 2. APPLICATION
To apply to the prize contest applicants had to submit a short 1-pager explaining what kind of re-make/up-cycling design they intend to do. The 20 strongest proposals were qualify to enter the contest and also win a 3 month membership in Lunds Öppna Verkstad or STPLN where they could turn their designs into a reality.

STAGE 3. CONTEST
During this stage the participants will turn their ReMake idea into a reality. Whilst having access to the machines, tools, advice and materials and support they need. This stage will be 3 weeks long. The last week of the contest and the grand final will coincide with the European Week for Wast Reduction.

The 20 finalists will during EWWR have the opportunity to showcase their ReMake design at Alternative Christmas, another EWWR event open for the general public, with the intention of becoming ambassadors for waste reduction and inspiring people to avoid, reuse and recycle waste in accordance with the waste hierarchy. Moreover, all designs will be made Open Source so that anyone can replicate the design!

The winner of the Emmaus ReMake Prize Contest will receive a price of 15 000 SEK and a beautiful trophy Emmaus Fredriksdal have made entirely from recycled materials. For more information check out our website emmausremake.org.

ABOUT EMMAUS FREDRIKSDAL
Emmaus Fredriksdal is a religiously and politically independent non-profit organization that promotes a fair distribution of our planet’s resources. We collect clothes and other items all over southern Sweden that we sell in our second-hand stores. The surplus generated from this reuse of our societies excess wealth is then used to finance and operate relief projects all over the world.

What makes your action original or innovative?*
Emmaus ReMake is the first program to give people from all walks of life, the skills, tools, materials and the support the need in order to take any type of waste and turn it into something beautiful.

The contest is also designed with scalability and replicability in mind (see the “lasting impact” section below)