Hardware FixRecommendedDevice not working? Your driver may be the problemCheck updates for common hardware issues.Fix DriversOctober DealsAmazon USOctober deal check: compare before you payAmazon US: current deals, useful picks and tech finds.Check DealsSlow PC?RecommendedPC slow today? Run a repair scan before it gets worseResolve common Windows issues and optimize system performance.Scan Now×
Skip to content
ThatPainter
3D printing

Make It Circular at Maker Faire Rome 2024: Winners and Projects

PavinGreen was first classified in Maker Faire Rome’s 2024 Make It Circular contest. Zestep, WEEKO and App Mercato Circolare also received recognition for circular-economy projects.

By ThatPainter Team 3 min read
Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

ThatPainter is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn More

Make It Circular was a circular-economy contest associated with Maker Faire Rome 2024. PavinGreen was first classified; Zestep and WEEKO received honourable mentions, and App Mercato Circolare received a special mention. Their projects addressed tire-rubber reuse, waste-derived 3D-printing filament, electronics recovery and circular-business discovery.

What was Make It Circular?

Make It Circular promoted a shift from a linear economy—where products are made, used and discarded—toward circular approaches that keep products and materials in use. The contest’s themes included explaining the environmental impacts of products and production processes, raising awareness of circularity and environmental footprints, and encouraging durability, sharing, repair, reuse and material recovery. It also emphasized involving consumers in choices that support circular products and services.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Maker Faire Rome 2024 took place at the Gazometro Ostiense in Rome from 25 to 27 October. The Chamber of Commerce described the contest as made by Innova Camera and consumer associations of the National Council of Consumers and Users (CNCU); Maker Faire Rome’s results page described it as promoted by consumer associations and Eni. Maker Faire Rome’s contest results and the Chamber announcement dated 9 October 2024 give those respective descriptions.

Innova Camera’s 2024 activity report recorded 45,000 attendees, more than 350 exhibition spaces, more than 20 countries represented and more than 600 project proposals for the event. These are figures for Maker Faire Rome overall, not the number of Make It Circular entries. Innova Camera’s 2024 activity report provides the event totals.

Who won the Make It Circular 2024 contest?

The official results named PavinGreen: Soluzioni SOSTEnibili as first classified. Zestep and WEEKO received honourable mentions, while App Mercato Circolare received a special mention. These are the contest’s distinct result labels, not a single shared winner category.

The Chamber announcement said the contest offered €3,000 for the best idea and three €1,000 prizes for special mentions. The results page identifies the recognized projects and labels; it does not provide a separate prize amount for each project. The Chamber’s announcement describes the prizes.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
Rank #3
GirlZone Fairy Potions Wish Maker Set, 50-Piece Magical Potion Craft Kit with Glitters, Mixing Bowls, Wand, Inks & Message Bottle, Spell Play Set for Kids, Magical Box, 9.1 x 6.8 x 3 Inches
  • Magical Fairy Fun: Dive into magical adventures with the GirlZone Fairy Potions Wishing Craft Set, perfect for sparking creativity in girls 8-12. Packed with everything needed, this fairy potion kit lets kids mix up fantastical brews like magic wish potions and dreamy elixirs
  • Enchanting Potion Play: Unleash endless creativity with this fantasy craft set, perfect for imaginative play and screen-free fun. Kids can roleplay as potion masters, mixing unique concoctions with the potion crafting kit, making potions for kids aged 8-12
  • Mystical Potion Display: Store your magical creations in special bottles included in this mega potion set, perfect for showing off your potion-making skills. The presentation box makes it easy to showcase your potions, transforming any kids' space into a mystical wonderland
  • Halloween Potion Magic: Get ready for Halloween with this fairy potions kit for kids, ideal for spooky celebrations and magical parties. Create bewitching brews and mystery mix potion craft kits to delight friends and family, adding enchantment to any gathering
  • Perfect Gift for Girls: Surprise your little one with this enchanting potion set, an ideal Halloween gift for girls who love magic and adventure. Complete with a spell booklet, this kit lets them explore potion making and craft unforgettable mementos

How entries were assessed

The listed criteria were the circular model’s impact and alignment with the Charter, the degree of innovation, and project development and technical feasibility. The panel was chaired by Maria Alliney, Secretary General of Assoutenti, and included Alessandra Colombo of Circular Economy & Sustainability at Versalis, Maker Faire Rome curator Alessandro Ranellucci, and Davide Zanon, project-office head at CODICI. The official results page lists the criteria and panel.

What the recognized projects proposed

The four recognized projects approached circularity in different ways. Their descriptions below reflect what the contest page reported in 2024; they are not independent performance tests or confirmation of current commercial availability.

Project and result Material or problem Approach and intended use What the 2024 description reported
PavinGreen: Soluzioni SOSTEnibili
First classified
Rubber from end-of-life tires Proposed paving modules for parking, pedestrian and play areas, as well as EV charging areas. The contest article described durability, impact and acoustic damping, and lower environmental impact than traditional mortars as project attributes. It also described recycled-material cement coatings intended to limit rubber-particle dispersion and improve wear resistance. These are project claims, not independently verified findings.
Zestep
Honourable mention
Cellulose-acetate eyewear-production scraps; also polycarbonate and polyamide optical-lens waste Aimed to turn manufacturing scraps into filament for 3D printing. The article said the team worked with Techinit and, after a year of trials, had produced a first filament that was awaiting patenting at the time. It described a second filament from optical-lens waste as in production. Those October 2024 statements do not establish current sales or availability.
WEEKO
Honourable mention
ICT equipment Proposed a prototype disassembly line combining robotics and human work to recover devices and components. The contest article attributed to WEEKO about 60,000 devices recovered in 2023, with 25% returned to market. These are the project’s reported figures, not independently audited totals.
App Mercato Circolare
Special mention
Finding circular-economy businesses and initiatives An app intended to connect users with businesses and projects offering circular-economy products or services. The 2024 article reported more than 1,000 listed businesses and initiatives and said the app was then available free for Android and iOS. That dated report does not confirm the app’s present status.

The project descriptions and result labels appear on Maker Faire Rome’s Make It Circular 2024 results page.

Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

What the projects show about circular design

The projects made the contest’s broad aims concrete in distinct parts of a product’s life cycle: PavinGreen proposed incorporating recovered tire rubber into a new building material; Zestep explored turning production waste into a material for another manufacturing process; WEEKO focused on taking ICT equipment apart for recovery and possible reuse; and App Mercato Circolare addressed how consumers find circular businesses and initiatives.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Their range also illustrates why a contest result is not a comparative environmental assessment. The descriptions establish what the projects proposed and what the organizers reported, but they do not provide a common lifecycle analysis or independent evidence that one approach delivered greater environmental benefits than another.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

More from the Paint Desk

Recommended PC Tool
Recommended PC Tool
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?Free scan - under a minute
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?Free driver scan

Two free Windows tools

One Free Minute Could Fix That PC

Before you go - each of these free tools takes about a minute and tackles what quietly slows a Windows PC down.

Special offer. View Outbyte info, uninstall instructions, EULA, and Privacy Policy.