The apple contest rules and important information.
TIMEPLAST APPLE DEGRADATION CHALLENGE
Official Rules and Scientific Competition Framework
Effective Date
May 21st, 2026
Sponsor
Timeplast, Inc. (“Timeplast,” “Sponsor,” “Company”).
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1. PURPOSE OF THE CHALLENGE
The Timeplast Apple Degradation Challenge (“Challenge”) is a scientific and environmental research competition designed to encourage participants to apply scientific reasoning, environmental knowledge, experimental design, and documentation skills to identify and validate conditions that maximize the degradation performance of Timeplast materials.
The Challenge is intended to generate meaningful scientific observations regarding environmental degradation pathways and to advance public understanding of material science, environmental conditions, and biodegradation mechanisms.
This Challenge is not a sweepstakes, giveaway, raffle, game of chance, lottery, or random drawing.
2. SKILL-BASED COMPETITION
The Challenge is a merit-based competition.
Winners are selected exclusively through evaluation of participant performance, scientific judgment, research methodology, deployment strategy, documentation quality, and observed outcomes.
No winner is selected by random chance.
Success in the Challenge depends substantially upon:
Scientific knowledge
Environmental understanding
Research ability
Experimental design
Strategic decision-making
Documentation quality
Observation skills
Analytical reasoning
Participants exercise meaningful control over outcomes through their selection of deployment environments, monitoring methods, reporting quality, and scientific approach.
3. CHALLENGE OBJECTIVE
Participants are challenged to determine where and under what environmental conditions a Timeplast Apple will degrade most effectively.
Participants must:
Formulate a hypothesis
Select a deployment site
Justify their selection using scientific reasoning
Monitor degradation
Document observations
Submit periodic reports
Present findings
The Challenge rewards superior scientific judgment and execution.
4. ELIGIBILITY
Open to legal residents of jurisdictions where participation is permitted by law who are:
At least 18 years of age
Able to lawfully receive prizes
Capable of complying with Challenge requirements
Void where prohibited.
Employees, officers, directors, contractors, and immediate family members of Timeplast may not participate.
5. ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
To enter, participants must:
Step 1
Acquire an official Timeplast Apple Challenge Kit.
Step 2
Submit a Deployment Plan containing:
Proposed location
Environmental description
Scientific rationale
Expected degradation behavior
Predicted outcome
Step 3
Deploy the Apple.
Step 4
Submit periodic documentation as required.
Step 5
Submit a Final Report.
Incomplete submissions may be disqualified.
6. SCIENTIFIC RATIONALE REQUIREMENT
Every participant must provide a written explanation describing:
Why the location was selected
Expected environmental factors
Anticipated degradation mechanisms
Scientific reasoning supporting predictions
Examples of relevant factors include:
Humidity
Temperature
Rainfall
UV exposure
Soil conditions
Biological activity
Compost activity
Microbial populations
Water exposure
Geographic conditions
The rationale forms a substantial component of judging.
7. REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION
Participants must maintain records including:
Mandatory Evidence
Initial deployment photographs
GPS coordinates or location description
Monthly photographs
Environmental observations
Weather data when available
Final photographs
Final report
Timeplast may request additional evidence to verify submissions.
8. JUDGING CRITERIA
Submissions will be evaluated using the following weighted criteria:
A. Scientific Strategy (30%)
Evaluation of:
Environmental analysis
Site selection quality
Scientific reasoning
Understanding of degradation processes
B. Experimental Design and Execution (20%)
Evaluation of:
Methodology
Consistency
Reliability
Adherence to protocols
C. Documentation Quality (20%)
Evaluation of:
Accuracy
Completeness
Clarity
Evidence quality
D. Observed Results (20%)
Evaluation of:
Degree of degradation achieved
Consistency with scientific hypothesis
Measured outcomes
Observed degradation alone does not determine winners.
E. Scientific Contribution (10%)
Evaluation of:
Educational value
Research usefulness
Novel findings
Environmental insights
9. WINNER DETERMINATION
Winners are selected by an evaluation panel appointed by Timeplast.
The judging panel may include:
Scientists
Engineers
Material specialists
Environmental professionals
Academic advisors
Judges evaluate submissions according to published criteria.
Highest-scoring entries win.
No winner is selected randomly.
No drawing is conducted.
No chance-based mechanism is used.
Judges’ decisions are final.
10. PRIZES
Two Grand Prizes
USD $5,000 per prize
Scientific Recognition Award
Additional awards may be granted at Timeplast’s discretion.
Career Opportunities
Outstanding participants may be invited to discuss employment, consulting, internship, research, or collaboration opportunities.
Participation does not create an employment relationship.
Any future employment opportunity remains subject to:
Legal eligibility
Company hiring procedures
Work authorization requirements
Standard evaluation processes
No employment is guaranteed.
11. NO CHANCE ELEMENT
The Challenge is designed such that participant decisions materially affect outcomes.
Participants influence performance through:
Research
Environmental analysis
Site selection
Deployment methods
Monitoring practices
Reporting quality
Environmental conditions alone do not determine winners.
The judging process evaluates participant skill, judgment, reasoning, and execution.
12. FRAUD PREVENTION
Timeplast may investigate any submission.
Grounds for disqualification include:
Fabricated data
Altered photographs
Misrepresentation
Manipulation of results
Failure to comply with rules
Conduct contrary to the spirit of the Challenge
13. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
Participants retain ownership of original submissions.
Participants grant Timeplast a worldwide, perpetual, royalty-free license to:
Publish submissions
Share photographs
Present findings
Use reports for research
Use content in educational materials
Use content in marketing communications
Participants warrant they possess all necessary rights.
14. ASSUMPTION OF RISK
Participants are solely responsible for:
Site access permissions
Legal compliance
Personal safety
Environmental compliance
Participants may not trespass, damage property, violate laws, or create environmental hazards.
15. DISPUTE RESOLUTION
Any dispute regarding scoring or judging shall be resolved according to these Official Rules.
Judging determinations are final and binding.
16. RIGHT TO MODIFY
Timeplast reserves the right to:
Clarify rules
Modify procedures
Extend deadlines
Suspend participation
Cancel the Challenge
if necessary to preserve fairness, scientific integrity, or legal compliance.
17. STATEMENT OF COMPETITION STRUCTURE
The Timeplast Apple Degradation Challenge is a scientific research competition in which winners are determined through demonstrated skill, scientific reasoning, environmental analysis, experimental execution, documentation quality, and observed results.
The Challenge is not a lottery, raffle, sweepstakes, giveaway, or random drawing.
All prizes are awarded exclusively on merit as determined by the published judging criteria.
