Earth911 Challenge: Design the Universal Reuse Symbol

Earth911 hosts the nation’s largest, most accurate recycling directory, but we’re the first to admit that recycling is only one solution to the daily problem of waste. In many ways, waste reduction and reuse are just as importation as recycling.

In 1969, a recycled paperboard company issued a challenge to art and design students across the U.S. to raise awareness of environmental issues. Gary Anderson, a college student at the University of Southern California, created the icon now known as the universal recycling symbol.

Today, the recycling symbol is universally used and internationally recognized. In this spirit, Earth911 challenges students, organizations, design firms and everyday consumers to think outside the chasing-arrows and design a universal reuse symbol to help spread the word about the importance of reuse and waste reduction. Much like the recycling symbol is used on products and bins, this universal reuse symbol can be utilized by anyone looking to encourage or inform reuse possibilities for products and materials.

Submit a design from July 18 to August 22 (noon Pacific Time). The Earth911 design team will select designs that will pass to the voting round. From August 23 to September 6 (noon Pacific Time), we’ll open it up to public voting. Rally your colleagues and friends to get behind your effort and join the public in selecting the winner.

Connect with this challenge on Twitter at @GOODmkr and @Earth911 and join the conversation via #ReuseSymbol.

Submission tips:

• Symbols should be in JPG, PNG, or GIF format, at least 570 × 345 pixels and no larger than 10MB.
• Submit your symbol along with a brief description of your design.
• The symbol must be able to be printed both in black & white and color.
• The symbol must be universal, and therefore cannot include any text.
• If you have any questions, please review these FAQs or send us an email at maker@goodinc.com

• This Challenge is open for submissions from July 18 to August 22 (noon Pacific Time). Only US-based organizations and individuals are eligible to apply. Applicants must be 18 years of age or older.
• All submissions may be used by GOOD and/or Earth911 for both editorial and promotional purposes.
• The winning symbol will become public domain and considered fair-use for universal implementation without trademark or attribution.
• Winner will need to send the master art files upon challenge completion.
• Earth911 reserves the right for final approval of such symbol and may make alterations to the winning symbol, if seen fit.
• Projects will be featured on this page and public voting will be open from August 23 to September 6 (noon Pacific Time).
• The project with the most votes will receive a prize of $500.
• In order to vote, log in with your GOOD account. If you don’t have a GOOD account, it’s free to join. All you need is an email address or a Facebook account to register. You will be emailed a link that you need to click in order to validate your address.
• Read all the rules.