The Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute and 3D design software firm Autodesk are calling on product designers to fuel the circular economy by participating in the second Cradle to Cradle Product Design Challenge.

The challenge kicks off today and gives designers a chance to win up to $6,000 for an innovative design that creatively eliminates waste.

Submissions are due Dec. 1 and winners will be announced in January 2016. Participants are eligible to submit their design after completing the free two-hour, online course Designing Cradle to Cradle Certified Products for the Circular Economy.

Alcoa Foundation provided financial support for the course and challenge.

The circular economy and Cradle to Cradle design principles support the move to 100 percent clean energy, elimination of waste, and creation of a healthier environment for both people and planet. The design challenge tackles the issue of waste by encouraging designers to select materials that can be perpetually cycled to fuel growing global economies and to design for next use phase.

Prizes in the inaugural Cradle to Cradle Product Design Challenge, which concluded earlier this year, were awarded in three categories: Best Student Project (currently enrolled in a higher education program); Best Young Professional Project (working in the design profession); and Best Use of Autodesk Fusion 360. This new challenge adds an additional category: Best Use of Aluminum.

A cash prize of $2,000 will be awarded in each of the four categories. The winner of the Fusion 360 prize will also receive a full pass to Autodesk University, an annual gathering of design, engineering and manufacturing professionals for a week of learning and networking. If the design proves worthy, judges could declare a participant winner in up to three categories, awarding the victor $6,000.

Entries will be evaluated on: design considerations that promote circularity, anticipated next life of the materials, identified path to reuse, choice of materials (non-toxic and recyclable), usefulness, and beauty.

Last year Ecover, Mosa, Trigema and I:CO won Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute awards for their products and systems encouraging recycling and reuse.