The Creative Ecofactory, an initiative led by Santos in Brazil, a Creative City of Film, was awarded the 2017 iFSocial Impact Prize. The World Design Guide – organizer of the prize – awards outstanding projects that aim to contribute positive results to society.

The Creative Ecofactory is an initiative established through a partnership between the Municipality of Santos City and Club Design of Santos. It aims to generate capacity building and better income for vulnerable groups by assisting them to use recycled wood to build furniture, which is later sold in stores around the city. As a result of the implementation of the Ecofactory, 3 tons of wood has already been recycled in one year.

The project works towards addressing multiple Sustainable Development Goals and helps foster personal development, income generation and improvement in the quality of life of the vulnerable people living in the Old Market district.