Zero Waste Challenge 2026

Official Rules

1. Who Can Join

  • Open worldwide to anyone age 18 or older
  • Not eligible: Upcyclers employees, contractors, affiliates, sponsors, and their immediate family members
  • Void where prohibited by law

2. Challenge Dates

  • Starts April 15, 2026 at 12:00 a.m. PST
  • Ends June 26, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. PST

3. How to Enter

You can enter in one of two ways:

Option 1, List a Product, U.S. Only

List your upcycled item for sale on Upcyclers.com with photos or a short video up to 20 seconds and a description

Option 2, Post a Creation, Showcase Only

Post your upcycled creation on the community feed with a photo or short video up to 20 seconds

To qualify, your entry must:

  • Be submitted during the challenge period
  • Include #zerowaste

4. Entry Eligibility

  • Entries must be submitted during the challenge period
  • Entries posted before April 15, 2026 qualify only if they have no hearts at the start of the challenge
  • All entries must include #zerowaste
  • Only hearts received during the challenge period will be counted
  • No purchase is required to enter or win

5. Entry Guidelines

To qualify, your entry must:

  • Include clear photos or a video 20 seconds or less
  • Include a short description of your process or materials used
  • Include #zerowaste
  • Be your original work
  • Be made primarily from reused materials such as secondhand clothing, scraps, deadstock, remnants, or discarded items

Small amounts of new materials are allowed such as thread, glue, or buttons

Do not use brand logos, designer labels, or copyrighted images unless you have permission

6. How Winners Are Chosen

Round 1, Community Voting

  • Top 5 most loved eligible entries by June 26, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. PST advance to finals
  • Only hearts received during the challenge period will count
  • Only one entry per person can advance

If a participant has multiple entries in the Top 5, only their highest ranked entry will advance

Round 2, Judges’ Review

  • Creativity and Originality, 40%
  • Craftsmanship and Quality, 30%
  • Sustainability Impact, 20%
  • Storytelling, 10%

Tie breaker: higher Creativity score wins

7. Prize

  • One Grand Prize winner receives $500 USD
  • Paid within 14 days via PayPal or bank transfer
  • Winner is responsible for any fees or taxes

8. Rights to Your Work

You retain ownership of your design

By entering, you grant Upcyclers a non exclusive, royalty free license to use your content to promote the challenge, the platform, and future campaigns

You confirm your work is original and does not infringe on others

9. Winner Announcement

  • Winner announced June 30, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. PST
  • Announced on Upcyclers.com and official social channels

10. Privacy

Your information will be used only to run the challenge, contact winners, and share updates if you opted in

11. General Conditions

  • Upcyclers may modify or cancel the challenge if needed
  • Any attempt to manipulate hearts or engagement may result in disqualification
  • All decisions are final

11. Governing Law

  • Governed by the laws of California, USA
  • Disputes handled in San Francisco County