Mary Kay's World Series of Innovation Challenge Empowers Young People to Solve Global Challenges

Mary Kay Inc. and Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) partnered to sponsor the 2020 NFTE World Series of Innovation, a global educational experience that invited young people ages 13-24 to find solutions for the biggest challenges facing the world today and help advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The challenge encouraged students to design a product, service, or initiative that creates a "circular economy" for clothing and textiles, reducing waste and decreasing greenhouse gas emissions. The three winners of Mary Kay's Challenge showcased innovative solutions to address Sustainable Development Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production.

Key Takeaways:

• Mary Kay's World Series of Innovation Challenge encouraged young people to submit innovative solutions to address Sustainable Development Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, with a focus on creating a "circular economy" for clothing and textiles.
• The three winners of Mary Kay's Challenge were Loop Tee Loop, SwagSwap, and Project DBrand, each proposing unique solutions to reduce waste and promote sustainable practices in the clothing and textiles industry.
• The challenge reached a global audience, with students from around the world submitting ideas, and nearly 350 students participated in the Mary Kay-sponsored challenge.
• Mary Kay employees hosted a kickoff session with participating students in Ireland, providing hands-on training and guidance in creative and entrepreneurial thinking.
• NFTE is a global educational nonprofit focused on bringing the power of entrepreneurship to youth in low-income communities, reaching 100,000 students worldwide and receiving nearly 4,000 student participants in the WSI Challenges in 2020.
• Mary Kay was one of the lead sponsors of the 2020 NFTE's United Nations Global Goals Conversation, an annual thought leadership event convening youth, industry, nonprofits, and philanthropy to advance a dialogue around social entrepreneurship solutions.

Statistics:

• 350 students participated in the Mary Kay-sponsored challenge.
• 100,000 students worldwide reached by NFTE.
• 4,000 student participants in the WSI Challenges in 2020.
• 80% of discarded textiles wind up in landfills globally.
• Clothing and textiles industry is the #2 worst-polluting industry, second only to the petrochemical industry.

Sources:

• "Mary Kay's World Series of Innovation Challenge Empowers Young People to Solve Global Challenges" (Mary Kay Copyright 2017 Contify.com)
• marykay.com
• innovation.nfte.com
• nfte.com
• contify.com