PETCOIN

Our solution provides exchange for blockchain tokens for plastics which can be used as monetary tender to purchase items, for example food stuffs, while baling these plastics collected for export.

Plastic pollution is a major environmental concern due to the severe threats its poses to both terrestrial and marine ecosystems. The ocean health index for Ghana showed a consistent decline from 2017 to 2019 from a score of 63 to 59. The annual imports of raw plastics materials are estimated to be 2.58 million metric tons and about 73% of the total plastic imports end up as waste materials. Plastic recycling represents an insignificant 0.1%. The analysis showed a daily average in Ghana is 0.47kg and sums it up to an estimated 12,710 tons per day for the population. In the marine ecosystem, plastic waste becomes entanglement capable of causing injuries and fatalities to some marine species. 

Marine plastic pollution facts show it is ridding the marine species with over 700 on the edge of extinction including Hawaiian monk seals and the loggerhead sea turtles. Along larger mammals even the tiniest can be affected by toxic microplastics which make their way up into the food chain. Marine plastic pollution in general has affected 100% of marine turtles, 59% of whales, 36% of seals and 40% of sea birds of those examined. Over 1 million sea birds and 100,000 marine mammals are killed by ocean plastic every year. 700 species of marine animals are in danger of extinction due to plastic plastic. The population of tuna has declined by 74% since 1970, and 1 in 4 shark species is threatened with extinction. 1 in 3 marine animals have been found tangled in plastic. Over 90% of sea birds have plastic in their stomachs. Sea turtles by-caught in fishing activities with and around the patch can have 74% (by dry weight) of their diets composed of ocean plastics.

705,000 tons of discarded fishing nets drown mammals including seals, this is known as ghost fishing. These nets also comes with plastics in the ocean. If coral encounters plastic the likelihood of it becoming diseased increases from 4% to 89%, a disastrous effect as coral is home to more than 25% marine lives.

Low recycling techniques and capacities coupled with lack of education on proper solid waste management and disposal by the populace in Ghana especially the coastal communities contribute significantly to marine plastic pollution. Our solution technology's role as an enabler to create and transfer assets means it can connect each item of plastic packaging with the consumer so that it can be treated like an asset with clear monetary, social and ecological value. We have adopted and incorporated technologies such as digital watermark, RFID, NFTS or IoT which would be used to trace products through the supply chain. A simple scan of the QR code automatically link information to an app and generate blockchain (PETCOIN) credit. We have incentivized these plastic collection and buy back program from all our collection centers in Ghana. People along the plastic waste value chain have been making extra income as part of our solution, thus, we strive to collect a ton of plastics on a daily basis.

By exchanging blockchain rewards to plastic collectors for their plastics while these plastics are baled and exported for partners for further recycling processes. Our solution technology's role as an enabler to create and transfer assets means it can connect each item of plastic packaging with the consumer so that it can be treated like an asset with clear monetary, social and ecological value. We have adopted and incorporated technologies such as digital watermark, RFID, NFTS or IoT which would be used to trace products through the supply chain. A simple scan of the QR code automatically link information to an app and generate blockchain (PETCOIN) credit. We have incentivized these plastic collection and buy back program from all our collection centers in Ghana. People along the plastic waste value chain have been making extra income as part of our solution, thus, we strive to collect a ton of plastics on a daily basis.

Plastic collection is a means of survival for poor, urban communities across Ghana. In Ghana, they recover at least 218 tons daily or nearly 12% of the total plastic waste generated. But these pickers have little visibility into the market price for what they have collected which leaves them vulnerable to the exploitation by middlemen. Our solution enables them to exchange plastic bottles for tokens (PETCOIN) which eventually gets redeemed in monetary value, thus the tokens are exchanged for money for their needs. The system allows anyone to deliver plastic bottles at certified collection centers. The blockchain technology ensures that the tokens for plastic are securely awarded and used. The plastic waste is digitally registered at collection, allowing for a transparent and traceable waste management system where everyone can see where these plastics end up. The immediate benefit of our solution is to reduce marine plastic pollution in the coastal communities, Moree especially in Ghana but hope to scale our solution across the length and breadth of the country. Moree is a major fishing community in Ghana with over 27,000 population. The effects of marine plastic pollution has affected their fishing activities, thus fishing has been the mainstay occupation for about 95% of the population as documented along the fisheries value chain. The effects of plastics on their fishing business and diet are dangerous and the earlier we scaled up solution to address the menace of plastic pollution the better. The standard of living is very low, an inception of an incentivized plastic collection is going to give them additional income where as efforts are made to educate and sensitize them to efficiently manage their solid waste.

Our team is from the University of Cape Coast in Ghana, namely, Anthony Yeboah (Team Lead), Emmanuel Ndemele, Hamdaratu Opata Mateko and Sebastian Appram. 

Anthony Yeboah is a final year student reading Bachelor of Commerce, (Accounting) and also climate change advocate, working around plastic innovations in the last five years.

Hamdaratu Opata Mateko is also reading Bsc Nursing and a gender advocate. She has worked as a registered nurse for a year, media personality -volunteering , interning and worked part time for the past 9 years. She is endowed with communication skills and public speaking, clinical and social science research, radio and event hosting, report and speech writing, grant and business propsal writing and health promotions.

Sebastian Appram is a social entrepreneur with over six years experience in the plastic waste management sector, founder of AnC Waste Management Services. He studied Bachelor of Management Studies and has postgraduate certifications in Fisheries Management and Project Management.

Emmanuel Ndemele is a student doctor, climate change  and cryptocurrency advocate. He has rich knowledge in blockchain systems with over five years experience in his field.

Initially, we engaged some people, mostly plastic users and collectors in Moree and its environs on the need to come up with a sustainable solution design. We employed a design thinking approach to help create our digital platforms, which is at the mockup stage. It will go through various refining stage before the final product is delivered for public usage. Traditionally, plastics are collected and tracked GPS systems together personal details and data from source collected. We have engaged them severally on plastic waste education and management emphasizing on waste segregation from source.

Our solution is innovative as we pay more attention to our solution design inculcating design thinking approach to solve marine plastic pollution. The new approach to tackle this menace is providing blockchain technology to track plastic waste and also reward plastic collectors with digital tokens (Petcoins). In the long run, plastic would not be seen as a waste but a resource to promote circularity in the industry. All plastics retrieved after use would be baled for export for further recycling purposes by partners. At the moment we are able to collect 500kg per day, almost 3 tons weekly.

Our impact goals are as follows:

1. Provide employment avenues for the youth in the plastic recovery chain as we seek to establish five major collection and baling points in the next five years.

2. Reduce marine plastic litter by 50% in Moree the next 3 years through household and buyback collections.

3. Raise more over $50,000 to expand business operations by the end of the year.

4. Collect 1ton a day by the end of the year.

5. Increase incentives packages by 20% for plastic collectors by the end of the year.

Our solution technology's role as enabler to create and transfer assets means it can connect each item of plastic packaging with consumer so that it can be treated like an asset with clear monetary, social and ecological value. We have adopted and incorporated technologies such as digital watermarks, RFID,NFTS or IoT which would be used to trace products through supply chain. A simple scan of the QR code automatically link information to an app and generate Petcoin credits.

We have 500 collectors in our database. We are focused in churning out more out of 27,000 population and hoseholds.

Our major challenge has been funding support to accomplish our goals. We seriously need $ 50,000 to establish more plastic collection points, along side embarking plastic waste education.

Alpha Recycling in Ghana, to help with the baling operations.

Greentech in Romania, where baled products are shipped to.

Our key customers or clients are plastic collectors both from collection points and household collectors. We award them digital and blockchain tokens, easily redeemed in monetary terms for every plastic exchanged with us. Apart from revenue generation for these collectors, we as a collective are working to close that loop of plastics entering the ocean to impact negatively of the fishing activities in Moree to be precise. In the long run, our sustainability goals in terms of addressing the menace is set right and achieved.

More than USD 10 million of bulk value plastic waste ends up in nature every year in Ghana. Feeding plastic waste into the circular economy and creating recycled products, meanwhile, could have a potential value of USD 50 million. Managing our finances well be an added advantage to our business growth. We will entering into competitions like this to seek grants and also raise funds through strategic partners. Traditionally, our revenue stream is by selling baled plastics to our recycling partners. There are other markets to explore in terms of materials collection and recycling, probably will do that in the future.