Terms and Conditions

The PR3 Global Standards Panel at RESOLVE (“Sponsor”) is sponsoring this “Rebrand Reuse: A Chance to Design the Icon of the Future Initiative” (the “Design Initiative” or the “Initiative”), a Design Initiative and Campaign to build a future where reuse is the norm. From March through May 2025, Rebrand Reuse has sponsored this open call to invite your submissions for a reuse symbol: the icon of the future.

With the Initiative, Sponsor is inviting creative minds like you (individually, a “Submitter”, or “you’ or “your,” and collectively, “Submitters”) to submit ideas for a new and innovative design for a reuse symbol (the “Symbol”) that could be used on reusable packaging (“Submissions”) to Rebrandreuse.org (the “Website”). The Symbol should be intended to help catalyze the shift away from single-use packaging while acting as a beacon for how new reuse systems work, and help differentiate reusable products from recyclables and other single-use waste, enabling consumers to keep reusable items out of recycling and landfills.

When you submit your Submission, you will be required to agree to the Terms and Conditions listed below. There is no purchase or payment of any kind necessary to make a Submission.

Sponsor reserves the right to choose any number of Submissions for future use—it may choose zero submissions or more than one. In the event Sponsor chooses a Submission for (potential) use, it may then license the Submission subject to the terms below and/or to any separate and applicable licensing agreement for a payment equivalent to $5,000 USD, as described in the Terms and Conditions herein.

Submissions will be accepted effective immediately and will be accepted until on or about May 31, 2025 (the “Submission Period”).

The Initiative is sponsored by RESOLVE, 2445 M St NW, Washington, DC 20037 (“Sponsor”).

To be eligible to participate, you must be a legal resident of a non-OFAC sanctioned country who is at least 18 years old or the age of majority in your jurisdiction of residence. Residents of a country or jurisdiction which is located on, restricted by, or sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control Sanctions Program list, available here, are excluded from eligibility and participation in this Initiative. Directors and officers of Sponsor, as well as employees of Sponsor who are involved in the administration of this Request for Submissions and their agents, representatives, and consultants, are not eligible to participate (collectively, the excluded “Sponsor Entities”). Sponsor reserves the right to verify eligibility. The Initiative is void where prohibited by law.

Your Submission must offer a Symbol that could be used as a symbol on reusable packaging. The purpose of this Symbol is to be placed on qualifying reusable packaging and products to indicate to consumers whether the packaging or product should be returned to a particular type of reusable bin or area following use by the consumer. Please visit https://rebrandreuse.org/why-reuse/ for more details on why we need a reuse symbol, how we intend to use the symbol, and why reuse is essential.

An ideal reuse symbol will

• Be clearly recognizable and distinct from existing recycling symbols;
• Be visually appealing, memorable, and clearly understood;
• it will Be legible, scalable, and adaptable, no matter the application;
• Inspire action and encourage reuse adoption while meaningfully resonating with diverse audiences;
• Most importantly, it will become a symbol for change, catalyzing a new, more sustainable future while inspiring people across generations.

Submissions must meet the following requirements, which are also detailed at https://rebrandreuse.org/criteria/

1. All Submissions must be submitted to the Website as both a flattened image file and a vector-based file:
   1. Acceptable flattened image file formats include JPG/JPEG and PNG (5MB max per file) or GIF (50MB max per file)
   2. Acceptable vector file formats include SVG, EPS, or AI (15 MB max per file)
2. Submission designs must use one high-contrast color (e.g., black) on a transparent or white background;
3. The resolution of the Submission must ensure that details are clear and reproducible when embossed, maintaining visual impact across all sizes:
   1. Submissions should be static;
   2. Submissions should avoid sharp points and intricate elements that may blur or distort when embossed;
   3. Line thickness should be no smaller than 0.5–1 mm. Spacing between elements should be at least 1 mm;
   4. If text is used, it should be 10-pt.;
   5. Submissions must be legible at a minimum size of 1.5 cm by 1.5 cm;
4. The Submission must be easily recognizable and clearly distinguishable from existing symbols, particularly the infinity symbol ♾ and other recognizable recycling symbols, including the mobius loop;
5. The Submission should be visually attractive, simple to reproduce (e.g., easy to draw), and memorable. This is an opportunity to create a lasting, ubiquitous symbol like the recycling symbol — a defining marker of the Reuse movement;
6. The Submission should inspire action and encourage the adoption of reusable containers and systems. Consider eliciting joy or excitement to motivate adoption and action;
7. The Submission must resonate with diverse audiences and effectively represent the concept of reuse. The Reuse movement needs a symbol that reflects the warm, welcoming, and innovative direction of circularity; and,
8. The Submission should be recognizable and clearly understood while being adaptable to various contexts, cultures, and languages.

Submissions must be original (modification of an original work is not an original idea) and must not copy or otherwise plagiarize from any source or have previously been published or won any award. Submissions must not contain, in Sponsor’s sole and absolute discretion, any obscene or explicit sexual material, nudity, profanity, commercial solicitations, or commercial promotion. Submissions also must not contain content or images that, or promote activities which are, considered or could be viewed as abusive, threatening, violent, tortious, inflammatory, defamatory, denigrating, obscene and/or sexually explicit, violent, illegal, profane, harassing, discriminatory, and/or disrespectful to groups, individuals, or institutions.

Any Submission that was created in whole or in part by use of artificial intelligence, generative artificial intelligence, machine intelligence or any other simulation of human intelligence or process through the use of a machine or computer system (“Artificial Intelligence”), or which in any way incorporates Artificial Intelligence, will be void, and the Submitter who submitted such a Submission may be disqualified at Sponsor’s sole discretion.

1. That your Submission is your original work;
2. That your Submission has not been previously published in any manner;
3. That your Submission has not been offered to any third party;
4. That your Submission does not infringe upon the copyrights, trademarks, rights of publicity or privacy, or any other intellectual rights of any person or entity;
5. That you as the Submitter are not relying on the “fair use” doctrine in lieu of consents;
6. That your Submission to Sponsor or the use by Sponsor of your Submission will not infringe on the terms and conditions of any third party website or application; and,
7. That your Submission does not use or in any way incorporate Artificial Intelligence in the creation of the Submission or as any part of any Submission;
8. That you as the Submitter warrant that the Submission is free from any malware, worms, viruses, Trojan horses, or any other destructive elements.

By submitting a Submission, you agree to indemnify Sponsor from any and all damages, costs and expenses (including reasonable attorney’s fees) incurred as a result of any third party claim that the Submission violates the rights of a third party or any damage which occurs, and for all costs and expenses resulting from the Submission’s using or containing malware, viruses, worms, Trojan horses, or other destructive elements.

To submit your Submission, simply go to the Website at https://rebrandreuse.org/enter/ during the Submission Period and follow the instructions provided there to upload your Submission. You will be required to provide your name, email, job title, phone, associated organization (as applicable), address, submission title and include a brief description to explain your Submission, any research, and/or how your Submission inspires, enables, or encourages reuse. The flattened image file format for the upload shall be JPG/JPEG, PNG or GIF and your upload may not exceed 5MB if JPG/JPEG or PNG or 50MB if GIF. The vector file format for the upload shall be SVG, EPS or AI and your upload may not exceed 15MB. Submissions not following the instructions provided herein and on the Website, including any restrictions as to format, size or length, or Submissions sent to any other address or location, will be disqualified and will not be considered. You must provide all information required on the Submission form to be considered. Participants may submit more than one Submission; however, each Submission must be separate. You must agree to these Terms and Conditions and all on-screen prompts at the time of Submission.

Submissions will not be returned. Proof of sending or proof of submission will not be deemed to be proof of receipt by Sponsor. Incomplete, illegible, corrupted, or untimely submissions are void and will be not be considered, however, Sponsor may (but is not required to) contact a Submitter to request that a Submission be resubmitted in a file that can be read or reviewed by Sponsor, e.g., in a file that is not corrupt, that is not incomplete, or that is in a different file format that can be reviewed. Failure to respond to such a request by Sponsor and provide a corrected or reviewable file shall be deemed to be a forfeit entry.

Multiple Submitters are not permitted to share the same email address. In the event of a dispute as to the identity of a Submitter, the authorized account holder of the email address used to enter will be deemed to be the Submitter or participant. The “authorized account holder” is the natural person assigned an email address by an Internet access provider, online service provider, Internet service provider, or other organization (which may include an employer) responsible for assigning email addresses for the domain associated with the submitted address. You may be required to show proof of being the authorized account holder. Submissions specifying an invalid, non-working, or inactive email address will be disqualified.

Submitter shall retain the copyright in this Submission, subject to the exclusive rights granted to Sponsor below:

By submitting a Submission, Submitter agrees that such Submission and any creative suggestions, ideas, notes, concepts or other materials (“Materials”) that Submitter may submit to Sponsor or post to rebrandreuse.org in connection with this Initiative, including all rights embodied therein, whether sent via the website or electronic mail or some other means, are deemed to be non-confidential and non-proprietary and Sponsor shall have no obligation of any kind with respect to such Materials.

Except where prohibited by law, for good and valuable consideration the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, submission of the Materials constitutes Submitter’s granting to Sponsor and/or its designees an irrevocable, world-wide, in perpetuity, irrevocable, royalty free, sub-licensable and assignable exclusive license (as to all third parties and Submitter as well) to use the Materials as it sees fit in online, hard copy, electronic, and physical materials and/or any media now known or hereafter developed, including but not limited to on products, merchandise, packaging, advertising, promotions, and signage, both internally and externally, to create derivative works, additional versions, and revisions in all media now known or hereafter developed. This license is to be broadly construed.

Additionally, Submitter grants Sponsor and its designees, in conjunction with their exercising their exclusive license, an irrevocable, world-wide, irrevocable, royalty free, sub-licensable and assignable license in perpetuity to use the Submitter’s name, portrait, picture, voice, likeness, opinions and biographical information (including but not limited to hometown and state or their jurisdictional equivalent), quotes attributable to Submitter and any other elements of Submitter’s persona for all purposes in conjunction with exercising the exclusive license to the Materials as set forth herein including but limited to in advertising, merchandising, promotions, packaging, etc. in all media without additional consideration, compensation, permission, or notification, including in a list to be used by sponsor and its designees and its partners unless prohibited by law.

Sponsor shall be free to edit, exploit, modify, publish, reproduce, use, disclose, disseminate, and distribute the Materials to others without limitation in any and all media now known or not currently known, throughout the world in perpetuity for any purpose without compensation, permission or notification to Submitter or any third-party.

Submitter waives any moral rights he or she may have to the Submission and Materials and agrees that if Sponsor elects to use the Materials for any purpose, all rights under copyright or other intellectual property rights in and derivative works, adaptations or revisions which may result from or relating to Sponsor’s use of the Submission shall be the sole property of Sponsor. Submitter further agrees that if Sponsor so requests, Submitter will execute any documents requested by Sponsor regarding this license and grant.

Starting in June, 2025, all Submissions received during the Submission Period will be reviewed by a panel of jurors created and selected by Sponsor, who will review Submissions based on (1) clarity and distinction; (2) visual appeal and memorability; (3) actionable symbolism; (4) meaningful representation; (5) recognizable and adaptable; and (6) scalability and readability. you may visit https://rebrandreuse.org/jury/ to view the current panel (the “Jury Panel”). The Jury Panel may select one or more Submissions for further review by the PR3 Global Standards Panel (“PR3 Panel”). Sponsor shall determine which, if any, Submissions to select for further review by the PR3 Panel in its sole prerogative, and may choose not to select any Submissions or may choose more than one such Submission. Sponsor’s decision is final. Submitters may be contact by Sponsor for further explanation of their Submission, as necessary and at Sponsor’s sole discretion. If a Submitter does not hear from Sponsor within eight (8) months after Submitter has submitted their Submission, Submitter can assume that the Submission was not chosen by Sponsor, and all rights in the Submission shall revert back to the Submitter.

Submitters grant to Sponsor the right to use their name and likeness in relation to their Submission in the promotion of the Submission or of Sponsor and/or its affiliate companies. Submitters may receive appropriate (as determined by Sponsor) credit for their contribution in certain usage and promotion materials, at Sponsor’s sole discretion. Except as specifically stated in these Terms and Conditions, or as mutually agreed upon in a signed writing by you and Sponsor, no additional consideration shall be paid for use of Submission or any credit or promotional uses of the Submitters’ name or likeness. The manner in which the Submitters' name and likeness will be used shall be in the sole discretion and determination by Sponsor. Sponsor is not obligated to use a selected Submitter’s name or likeness. Submitter will execute such written documents as requested by Sponsor to confirm the use of a selected Submitter’s name and likeness and cooperate in obtaining appropriate photographs of Submitter. Failure to execute such document shall disqualify Submitters from having their Submission selected and used.

In the event that Submitters’ Submission is selected by the Panel, Submitter shall be invited to virtually present their Submission to Sponsor and the Panel (the “Presentation”). The date, time, and details of the Presentation shall be selected at Sponsor’s discretion. If Submission is thereafter selected by the Panel and Sponsor for use as indicated in these Terms and Conditions, such Submitter shall receive a check or cash payment equivalent to $5,000 USD (“Selection Payment”). Said Presentation opportunity and Selection Payment, and/or any publicity or benefit received by submitting a Submission, shall be the total consideration provided to Submitter for the assignment of the copyright in the Submission and any and all uses of the Submission and the use of Submitter’s name or likeness in any manner by Sponsor. If Submitter’s Submission is commercially exploited by Sponsor, then there will be no further compensation. Selected Submitters shall provide Sponsor with such information as needed for compiling any necessary tax filing. The Submitters shall be responsible for the payment of any and all federal, state, and local taxes in regard to the award of any Selection Payment, as well as any fees, costs and expenses not specifically specified herein.

While there is no limit to the number of Submissions that Sponsor may select for future use, Sponsor may determine at its option that no Submissions satisfy its criteria and standards. This is not a contest and there are no prizes to be awarded; Sponsor is requesting Submissions of the best ideas that Submitters have and may decide to include one (or more) of those ideas in any type of media now known or unknown, only if there are Submissions that meet Sponsor’s standards.

WARNING: ANY ATTEMPT BY A SUBMITTER OR ANY OTHER INDIVIDUAL TO DELIBERATELY TAMPER WITH OR DAMAGE ANY WEBSITE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS INITIATIVE OR UNDERMINE ITS LEGITIMATE OPERATION MAY BE A VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAW, AND SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, SPONSOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO PROSECUTE AND SEEK DAMAGES FROM ANY SUCH PERSON TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW. Sponsor reserves the right at its sole discretion to disqualify any individual it finds to be attempting to tamper with or undermine the submission process, any related website, and/or Sponsor’s legitimate operation; to violate the Official Rules; or to act in an unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner or with the intent to annoy, abuse, threaten, or harass any other person.

Sponsor and its agents are not responsible for (1) any incorrect or inaccurate information, whether caused by Submitters, errors or by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized in the Initiative; (2) lost, late, incomplete, damaged, stolen, misdirected, or illegible Submissions; (3) lost, interrupted, or unavailable network, server, or other connections; miscommunications, computer or software malfunctions, telephone transmission problems, technical failures, garbled transmissions, damage to a user's computer equipment (software or hardware), or other errors or malfunctions of any kind, whether human, mechanical, electronic or otherwise; (4) unauthorized human intervention in any part of the submission process; (5) technical or human error which may occur in the administration of the Initiative or the processing of Submissions; or (6) any injury or damage to persons or property which may be caused, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, from Submitter's participation in the Initiative. If, for any reason, the Initiative cannot be run as planned, Sponsor may, in its sole discretion, (a) modify the Initiative or suspend the Initiative to address the impairment and then resume in a manner that best conforms to the spirit of these Terms and Conditions; and/or (b) terminate the Initiative. Sponsor’s failure to enforce any term of these Terms and Conditions shall not constitute a waiver of that provision. Sponsor is not responsible for any breach to Submitter’s data or for any data security incident caused by or resulting from any third party platform partner or other third party’s collection, use, or distribution of Submitter’s data.

BY MAKING AND SUBMITTING A SUBMISSION, SUBMITTER AGREES THAT SPONSOR AND ITS AFFILIATES, SUBSIDIARIES, REPRESENTATIVES, CONSULTANTS, CONTRACTORS, LEGAL COUNSEL, ADVERTISING, PUBLIC RELATIONS, PROMOTIONAL, FULFILLMENT AND MARKETING, WEBSITE PROVIDERS, WEB MASTERS, AND THEIR RESPECTIVE OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, REPRESENTATIVES, AND AGENTS (THE “RELEASED PARTIES”) WILL HAVE NO LIABILITY WHATSOEVER FOR, AND SHALL BE HELD HARMLESS BY SUBMITTERS AGAINST, ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY INJURIES, LOSSES OR DAMAGES OF ANY KIND TO PERSONS, INCLUDING PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH, OR PROPERTY RESULTING IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, FROM PARTICIPATION IN THE INITIATIVE OR IN ANY RELATED ACTIVITY, OR ANY CLAIMS BASED ON PUBLICITY RIGHTS, DEFAMATION OR INVASION OF PRIVACY. THE RELEASED PARTIES ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE IF THE INITIATIVE IS TERMINATED OR THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS CANNOT BE FULFILLED DUE TO ACTS OF GOD, ACTS OF WAR, NATURAL DISASTERS, WEATHER, EPIDEMIC, PANDEMIC, OR TERRORISM. BY PARTICIPATING IN THIS PROMOTION, SUBMITTER AGREES THAT THE RELEASED PARTIES WILL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE OR LIABLE FOR ANY INJURIES, DAMAGES, OR LOSSES OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES TO PERSONS, INCLUDING DEATH, OR TO PROPERTY ARISING OUT OF ACCESS TO AND USE OF ANY WEBSITE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PROMOTION OR THE DOWNLOADING FROM AND/OR PRINTING MATERIAL DOWNLOADED FROM SUCH SITE.

Each Submitter understands and acknowledges that Sponsor has wide access to ideas, designs, and other materials, and that new ideas are constantly being submitted to it or being developed, including by their own employees. Each Submitter also acknowledges that many ideas may be competitive with, similar or identical to the Submission and/or each other in theme, idea, format or other respects. Each Submitter acknowledges and agrees that such Submitter will not be entitled to any compensation as a result of Sponsor's use of any such similar or identical material. Each Submitter acknowledges and agrees that the Sponsor does not now and shall not have in the future any duty or liability, direct or indirect, vicarious, contributory, or otherwise, with respect to the infringement or protection of the copyright in and to the Submission. Finally, each Submitter acknowledges that, with respect to any claim by Submitter relating to or arising out of Sponsor’s actual or alleged exploitation or use of any Submission or other material submitted in connection with the Initiative, the damage, if any, thereby caused to the applicable Submitter will not be irreparable or otherwise sufficient to entitle such Submitter to seek injunctive or other equitable relief or in any way enjoin the production, distribution, exhibition or other exploitation of the Submission or any material based on or allegedly based on the Submission, and the Submitter's rights and remedies in any such event shall be strictly limited to the right to recover damages, if any, in an action at law.

Except where prohibited, this Agreement is governed by the laws of Washington, D.C., and Submitter agrees that: (1) any and all disputes, claims and causes of action arising out of or connected with this Initiative shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action, and exclusively by the United States District Court for Washington, D.C.; (2) any and all claims, judgments and awards shall be limited to actual out-of-pocket costs incurred, including costs associated with Submission, but in no event attorneys’ fees; and (3) under no circumstances will Submitter be permitted to obtain awards for, and Submitter hereby waives all rights to claim, indirect, punitive, incidental and consequential damages and any other damages, other than for actual out-of-pocket expenses, and any and all rights to have damages multiplied or otherwise increased. All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of this agreement between Sponsor and Submitter, or the rights and obligations of the Submitter and Sponsor in connection with the Initiative, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of Washington, D.C., without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules, which would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other Washington, D.C.

In order to submit your Submission, you must agree to these terms and conditions. By submitting a Submission, you are indicating that you have read and agree to these terms and conditions, and agree to be bound by them.