Postcode Lottery Green Challenge 2010 starts

International search for creative, innovative sustainable invention under way

Amsterdam, The Netherlands, May 6 2010 – The Postcode Lottery Green Challenge is back. For the fourth consecutive year, people around the world are invited to send in their ideas for reducing CO2 emissions. The best sustainable product or service will win 500.000 euro. And two more green ideas could win 100.000 euro each. Winning products and services must be able to be brought to market within two years. The contest closes on 31 July 2010.

Worldwide innovation
The Postcode Lottery Green Challenge is aimed at creative, innovative thinkers all over the world. If your green product and/or service combats the production of greenhouse gases and scores high on design, user-friendliness and quality, you could win. Each entrant must submit a detailed business plan so our expert preliminary jury can determine whether his or her idea is viable. After 31 July 2010, the preliminary jury will choose five to seven finalists.

PICNIC 2010
In late September, the finalists will present their ideas to an international expert jury and an audience of invited guests at the multiday cross-media conference PICNIC’10. The jury will choose the winner on the basis of these presentations and private interviews with the candidates. The winner will receive 500.000 euro to take his or her idea to market. The organisation will also introduce him or her to potential customers and business partners. And two runners-up could be chosen to win 100.000 euro each.

Successful entrepreneurs
Previous years’ winners have successfully brought their products on the market, thanks in part to the publicity and network around the Postcode Lottery Green Challenge. Last year’s winner was the Briton Dean Gregory of The Power Collective, which makes all-but-invisible windmills for use on peaked roofs. In 2008, the American Eben Bayer won for his organic insulation material, Greensulate. And the first year, the Dutchman Igor Kluin won with the Qbox for decentralised energy generation.

The Green Challenge blog
To provide extra support to sustainable entrepreneurs, the Dutch Postcode Lottery has started The Green Challenge blog. Bloggers from all over the world report on their efforts to bring sustainable products and services to market. The blog team includes past Postcode Lottery Green Challenge participants.