Discarded Dreams: Used Mattress Design Competition

While re-use and recycling may focus on many of the daily items we use and consume, there are bigger ticket items that may get forgotten.  Every year 40 million mattresses get thrown in the trash and their construction is by nature hard to dispose, causing landfills to pile up with tons of useless materials.

Architecture for Humanity and Rubicon National Social Innovations are trying to change this by launching a design competition titled “Discarded Dreams: Used Mattress Competition.”

Below is the competition challenge, schedule and prizes:

Architecture for Humanity and Rubicon National Social Innovations invite entrants to create innovative ways of converting used mattresses into useful products. The competition aims to encourage entrants to form groups capable of creating a consumer product, instructions detailing how to make the product, and a plan for production on a larger scale. Entrants must create designs that take into account the volume of mattress waste generated each year. Groups are encouraged to utilize local resources, including existing manufacturing facilities and other waste products.

| Schedule |

September 1st: Competition Opens
December 5th: Deadline for registration and submission.
December: Jury Review
February 2009: Announcement of winners!

| Prizes |

1st place: $1000
2nd place: $500
3rd place: Amazing Rubicon Bakery baked goods delivered to your door!

Related Article: BedBusters: Taking Your Old Mattress to a Greener Place