The Three Sustaineers of the UK claimed the £3,000 third prize with a standardised component rack designed to reduce single-use plastics in packaging. The rack has no drawers; instead, a range of RS PRO consumables such as nuts, screws, standoffs, washers, and cable ties are supplied in durable cardboard boxes that fit straight into the rack.
The second prize of £5,000 went to Pili Seal of the Philippines for a hybrid sealant made from waste materials that offers effective adhesion and sealing for the aviation and construction industries, particularly on sheet metals. It is resistant to moisture and high temperatures, non-toxic, and cost effective.
NextGen Engineers of South Africa won the first prize of £10,000 with a modular four-layer stacked gravity filter using a combination of rock and sand to mechanically remove impurities. The filter materials are efficient, inexpensive, easily available worldwide and non-polluting. Potential beneficiaries include some two billion people worldwide who lack easy access to clean water.
The RS Innovators Championship was launched in October 2022. Young innovators, aged 18-30, were tasked with working together in teams of their choice to design solutions that align with RS’ ESG goals and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The teams were given the option of five challenges that could help transform how the industry currently operates. First, the teams submitted a written application and video to explain their ideas, they then developed them during six weeks of masterclasses and mentoring by leaders from RS Group, and finally pitched them to a panel of judges through a virtual showcase.
RS Grass Roots, the youth and social impact team, aims to create valuable opportunities, activities and experiences for students and young people all around the world, bridging the gap between university and the workplace.
