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Can you propose a cutting-edge product idea to address water availability?
Challenge Type: engineering
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$1,600
top 11
167
submissions
DONE
42 months ago

Water availability is a topic of increasing global concern.  Consider this: The National Water Stress Ranking reports that 44 countries have been recently rated as highly concerned by water stress.  According to the United Nations, several regions of the globe face complex challenges to ensuring that everyone has access to sustainably-managed water and sanitation services.  At the current consumption rate, this situation will only get worse.  By 2025, two-thirds of the world’s population may face water shortages. And ecosystems around the world will suffer even more.

The topic of water availability encompasses issues including the waste of water, water pollution and/or contamination, water shortage, water supply, and water treatment, amongst others. 

We are a personal care and skincare company with an aim to start several initiatives and develop disrupting solutions that will uniquely tackle and improve the water availability and usage at different levels of the water cycle, from its supply until its disposal and treatment. What skincare or personal care product should exist to address the growing problem of water availability? 

Deliverables

We are interested in new and innovative products that will address the problem of water availability.  Product ideas should also relate to skincare or personal care in some way and deliver a consumer benefit.  Product ideas should be original and not something that you can find in stores or online today.  

We are not necessarily looking for you to submit skincare and cosmetic product formulations with an ingredient list.  Rather, we are open to broadminded solutions, which might be technology, a device, etc.  Please think creatively!

Specifically, please answer the following:

  1. Tell us about your experiences with water availability (i.e. waste of water, water pollution and/or contamination, water shortage, water supply, and water treatment, amongst other issues):
    1. Were you aware of the current situation regarding water availability?
    2. Are you currently facing any issues of water availability?
    3. What are your concerns regarding water availability?
  2. Do you think that your current skincare / personal care routines or habits are respectful of the water crisis?  Why? How could they improve to be more mindful of or proactive towards water availability?
  3. How well do you think that current skincare / personal care products address the water availability problem?  
  4. What is your novel “sustainable water” skin care or personal care product idea? Be sure to explain the following:
    1. What it is
    2. How it would work
    3. The water availability need / problem that it addresses (water waste / use, water pollution, water shortage, etc.) 
    4. The consumer benefit it delivers (ex: a skincare benefit)
    5. Why this product would make sense for / fit with personal care and skincare company 
    6. Why consumers would want to buy your product idea   

Please note: Our personal care and skincare company offers products such as moisturizers, shower gels, sunscreen, etc.  We do not offer color cosmetics such as lipstick and mascara.

    Submissions will be graded on the following criteria:
  • 1-10 Scale
Reward Tiers
5 Winners
will receive $200 each
6 Honorable Mentions
will receive $100 each
Leaderboard
$200.00 Susantha Wanigaratne Mahatma Gandhi University
$200.00 Okpamen Obasogie Landmark University
$200.00 Purushottam Sharma Abdul Kalam Technical University, Lucknow, India
$200.00 Jorge Mario Vega Iglesias Universidad Santo tomas
$200.00 Elena Kotova Financial University
$100.00 Gerald Okafor University of Manchester
$100.00 Christopher Adjei-Frimpong University of Mines and Technology, Tarkwa
$100.00 Abhishek Mishra Abdul Kalam Technical University, Lucknow
$100.00 Norman Yam National University of Singapore
$100.00 Olivia Wendell Honolulu community college
$100.00 Avijit Majumder Manipal University
Submission questions


What is your age?

(Required)
under 18
18 - 22
23 - 27
28 - 32
32+

What is your gender?

(Required)
female
male
other/prefer not to say

What is your current continent of residence?

(Required)
South America
North America
Asia
Europe
Australia
Africa

Where are you currently living?  Please type in this format: City, Country

(Required)

Where do you come from / where were you born? Please type in this format: City, Country

(Required)

What is your primary area of education?

(Required)
Business
Social Sciences & History
Health Professions and related programs
Psychology
Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Engineering
Visual and Performing Arts
Economics
Communication, Journalism, and related programs
Education
Computer & Information Sciences
Other

Which of the following Skincare & Personal care brands are you currently using? (Check all that apply)

(Required)
Rexona
Dove
Nivea
L’Oréal
Garnier
Neutrogena
Johnson & Johnson
Axe
Vaseline
Pond’s
Other

Which of the following Skincare & Personal care products have you used in the last week? (Check all that apply)

(Required)
Bar Soap
Body wash / Shower gel
Exfoliator
Shampoo
Conditioner
Facial cream
Facial cleanser
Body lotion
Deodorant
Sunscreen
Masks (Hair, Face, Body, etc.)

Before this challenge, were you aware of the current situation regarding the water availability crisis?

(Required)
yes
no

Is your current country of residence or your country of birth explicitly raising awareness about water availability? If yes, which one?

(Required)
Yes - Country of residence
Yes - Country of birth
Yes - both
Neither of them

Do you feel currently concerned by the water availability crisis? 

(Required)
yes
no

Are you facing any issues of water availability? (Check all that apply)

(Required)
Water shortage (temporary water unavailability)
Water storage (unavailability of water reservoirs)
Water restrictions (rules for water usage)
No access or limited access to clean water (for home care and shower purposes)
No access or limited access to drinking water
Other
None of them

According to you, which factors are the key drivers for the water availability crisis? (Check all that apply)

(Required)
Climate change
Water pollution
Unsustainable energy production
Unsustainable agriculture industrial practices
Unsustainable non-agriculture industrial practices
Overconsumption for personal / homecare tasks
Global population growth
Inadequate infrastructure

According to you, who are those mainly responsible for causing the water availability crisis?

(Required)
Industries
Consumers
Governments

Think about the products you consume for skin care or personal care.  Do you know if they have a positive impact on water availability?  If yes, how are they doing it?

(Required)
The product itself has a better water footprint
The product helps me to reduce my water usage
The product helps me to replace my water usage
The product does not pollute water sources
I do not pay attention to my water consumption
Other

Thinking about other product goods like laundry or homecare products you consume.  Do you know if they have a positive impact on water availability?  If yes, how are they doing it?

(Required)
The product itself has a better water footprint
The product helps me to reduce my water usage
The product helps me to replace my water usage
The product does not pollute water sources
I do not pay attention to my water consumption
Other
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