Project Ibtida

A one-stop solution to the carbon emissions and stubble burning concerns. By producing products from different carbon-negative materials and offering a sustainable alternative, our project is making a difference.

We want to stop the harmful consequences of air pollution via Project Ibtida. India is home to 11 of the world's top 12 most polluted cities. Over 55 million people are affected and 2.5 million people die each year as a result of air pollution.

Burning stubble is a significant factor in these alarming statistics. About 23 million tonnes of paddy stubble are burned annually by farmers in the states of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), enormous tracts of agricultural land that are set on fire each year add to the air pollution that kills 7 million people each year, including 650,000 children.

This pollution has two effects: the first is the removal of a significant amount of organic matter, nitrogen, and phosphorus from the soil as well as the loss of other beneficial flora and fauna. The second off-site effect is the worsening of health-related problems as a result of the decline in overall air quality. As a result, respiratory illnesses including cough, asthma, and bronchitis as well as eye and skin conditions and chronic heart and lung disorders are becoming more common.

The concrete sector is yet another significant polluter. 7% of all carbon emissions are attributable to the concrete sector. It causes more than 30% of the air pollution in India alone, which triggers a range of problems.

By addressing the most pressing environmental issues, such as air pollution and climate change, Project Ibtida exemplifies the tenets of scientific invention and innovation. By upcycling industrial waste like fly ash and agricultural waste into clever utility products like planters, candleholders, lamps, desk organizers, utility trays, bookends, stools, coasters, and wall clocks under our brand "Sanscrete," our solution is simply to give back more than what is being taken.

We use Agrocrete®, a carbon-negative alternative to conventional cement, to manufacture an innovative and elegant variety of products with the assistance of state-of-the-art scientific technology from our collaborators at GreenJams. This creates a double impact by providing a superior alternative to plastic and concrete utility products.

The surface and qualities of agrocrete are basically the same as that of cement. It isn't just areas of strength as tough, yet additionally cost-productive, lighter in weight, and more water-safe than Portland concrete.

Project Ibtida not just handles the issue of environmental change and air contamination, it likewise gives fair wages to ranchers to stubble squander giving them an additional wellspring of earnings when the gathering season closes.

Agrocrete® is a carbon-negative material, and that implies it effectively retains more CO2 in the course of its life than what was delivered while making it consequently, starting a major jump towards battling environmental change.

At Project Ibitda we believe in development from the ground up, In collaboration with Prabhaav NGO we help uplift the underprivileged section of society by providing our beneficiaries with a source of sustainable employment and directly increasing their income acquisition capacity.

70% of our profits go directly to our beneficiaries and the remaining 30% is reinvested in our project. 

Stubble burning is a result of the lack of stubble disposal and collection. We solve this problem by providing farmers with monetary incentives in return for the stubble they supply to us. This acts as an incentive for responsible disposal and an extra source of income once the harvest season is over. 

We believe in impacting lives regardless of the social strata and occupations of people, hence our solution contributes to a reduction in air pollution and an innovative leap in reversing climate change, and improving the quality of life.

The team at Project Ibtida works with utmost dedication and diligence to achieve the target of sustainability set by the United Nations. While emerging from diverse academic backgrounds such as Economics, Mathematics, Psychology, Business Management, Political Science, Computer Science, and Commerce, we strive to fulfill common objectives which augment the achievement of one fundamental goal - making the world a better place. The members of the society are assigned to various departments (such as Research and Development, Marketing, Content, and Design and Technology) where the whole process, from the inception of an idea to the attainment of results, takes place under the guidance of our core members, faculty advisors, and industry experts. Our small team is a part of a substantial family of Aryabhatta College, University of Delhi and we persist to rise by lifting others. Our team comes from various ethnic and cultural backgrounds which helps us come up with ideas that are sensitive to the needs of every demographic. A majority of our team resides in Delhi and neighboring cities which provides them with first-hand experience of the toxic cloud of air engulfing the city. The continuously deteriorating AQI levels make it difficult to breathe properly while giving birth to numerous diseases. Having experienced the level of harm that can be caused by these grave problems fuels the motivation of our members to work on our solution and amplify its impact on a wider audience.

We conducted in-depth market research and surveys to understand and then develop the ideal fusion of aesthetics and functionality for home decor items and created our product to meet both interior and exterior needs. We examined the industry's current trends, demands, and patterns in this market study and drew the conclusion that consumers are now choosing sustainably and placing quality above other factors.

In addition, we studied the functioning and the framework within which our competitors operate. These competitors offer similar products to fulfill decor needs but are made of concrete. 

We’ve worked with a Delhi-based organization called Arts4All and students from Jamia Millia Islamia Institute of Delhi which helped us gain insights in designing and product development.

The problem of climate change is not new to a country like India with an increasingly growing population and consequent sources of pollution. However, the problem is aggravated many times due to stubble burning. A country where approximately 75% of the population is engaged in agricultural activity, is engulfed in the cloud of smoke during the months of August and October. The problem is further aggravated by the never-ending growth of the industrial sector and construction work. These sectors leave behind by-products like fly ash and slags which if not treated ultimately causes water, air and soil pollution. Project Ibtida provides a one-stop solution to all the aforementioned problems by innovatively venturing into carbon-negative materials and clean technologies. The utilization of carbon-negative materials is the central attraction of our products because such materials absorb more carbon than they release in their lifetime and thus have the potential of creating a carbon-negative world. With the help of our collaborators GreenJams we have ventured into one such material named Agrocrete, the material consists of stubble, fly ash and slag in varying compositions and serves as an eco-friendly alternative to concrete. Another unique property of agrocrete is that it is much lighter, stronger, waterproof and more durable than traditional concrete. Agrocrete thus provides an improved and unique solution to the problem of climate change by tackling three grave problems at a time. 

Further, we wanted to put the material to use in such a way that it becomes a part of people's everyday life and is able to create a much greater impact. Looking at the recent trends the disposable income of Indians has been growing rapidly, leading to increased consumption and production. People are now more able to purchase new properties and homes. The home decor industry is also likely to grow rapidly and was also estimated to reach 40.64 billion dollars by the end of 2022. However, most of these products are made of plastic or other materials such as concrete that cause indoor pollution through the release of gases like ammonia. Hence the launch of Sanscrete, our first vertical, was conceived. With Sanscrete we have curated a range of home decor products like wall clocks, planters and coasters made from agrocrete. This initiative aims to replace conventional home decor products by providing an eco-friendly, sustainable and durable alternative. We believe in a zero waste model and therefore once purchased these items will not have to be replaced from time to time, thereby limiting waste generation. 

Hence Ibtida is a step towards matching utility with sustainability, aiming to change the market in the next upcoming years. A carbon-negative material like ours will not only attract customers but would also encourage other manufacturers to venture into the growing market of sustainable materials for sustainable home living. Our organization also believes in collaboration such as our collaboration with GreenJams has enabled us to uplift the artisan community as well as come up with a solution to change the home decor industry. We aim to look for similar collaborations in future which would enable us to generate a greater impact and at the same time sensitize our customers as well as competitors in the marketplace.

Our first vertical under Project Ibtida, "Sanscrete," aims to impact and lower pollution levels by fusing the evils of stubble burning with the rising demand for home decor items and offering a sustainable substitute.

Environmental Impact 

By upcycling 65000 kg of stubble, we aim to prevent about 80000 kg of CO2, 22000 kg of organic carbon and other pollutants this year, thus reducing climate change. 

The amount of plastic demand reduced is measured directly by the volume of our product in the market while preventing and capturing air pollution. 

Our Packaging is also eco-friendly and sustainable which further helps us in eliminating the use of plastic 

Beneficiaries

By buying stubble from farmers at a fair price, we want to increase their income by $570 to $1020 ($12 to $20 per tonne), while also creating job opportunities for more than 30 beneficiaries (semi-skilled workers and artisans) who are involved in the production process and supply chain.

With Project Ibtida, our aim is to diversify into more carbon-negative alternatives like hemp through research and collaborations, thereby increasing our impact numbers both in terms of environmental impact and the lives that are impacted by our project.

The core technology that powers our solution is a proprietary technology mentored to us by our collaborators, Greenjams. The technology is used to manufacture a special form of concrete created by exposing stubble to a high degree of pressure in furnaces to crush it. Subsequently, mixers are used to combine stubble with other industrial by-products to produce Agrocrete, which is a lighter, eco-friendly alternative to concrete. Agrocrete is 30% lighter than concrete and is also biodegradable. This technology of creating a stubble-made alternative to concrete uses the scientific principles of pressure strength creation and uses the buoyancy principles to keep the Agrocrete lighter and more resistant to logistical damage. This Agrocrete is then molded into our products using the silicon molds we design using the help of 3D printing and casting. 

The project is also dependent upon technology and social media to market the products to a wide customer base, which has become a necessity after the global pandemic. 

Farmers 

Getting stubble from the farmers is essential to our project. For $12 to $20 per tonne, depending on the type of stubble, we purchase stubble from farmers in Punjab. Through Project Ibtida, the agricultural waste that they previously burnt becomes an opportunity and offers them a new source of income. The benefit of our approach is that it not only provides them with a fair price but also an alternative to stubble burning, which degrades the quality of their fields. 

Beneficiaries 

Our beneficiaries include artisans and semi-skilled laborers who work from the product's conception through its final sanding and finishing are among our beneficiaries. We empower the most disadvantaged members of society with training and employment, giving them the chance to use their abilities to support themselves. We currently have 40 part-time and full-time beneficiaries, and as we grow our project and introduce our solution to other areas, we anticipate hiring more than 100 people by the end of this year.

We, directly and indirectly, affect a significant region of Northern India affected by carbon emissions from the burning of stubble and subsequently assist the population affected by pollution from the cement and plastic industry because our project addresses the serious issue of air pollution, solves the problem of stubble burning, and makes sustainable home decor products in place of concrete and plastic products.

Financial Obstacles:

Establishing a production facility in Delhi requires a significant investment due to the installation of industrial equipment, including sanding machines, silicon molds, vibrating tables, and storage, which raises the cost along with the transportation of raw materials and finished goods. 

Technical Obstacles: 

To conduct research to improve the method of biological carbon sequestration by prototyping with other carbon-negative materials and industrial tools, it is necessary to have the necessary funds, skills, and research to enable a continuous supply chain of materials and equipment.

Market Barriers: 

Consumers are better able to judge a product's quality and value when they can physically touch and feel it. Online marketing is the only means of raising awareness and involving prospects in the buying process because offline exhibitions and kiosks where people can experience and feel this novel material and learn more about its qualities are not yet practical. Nevertheless, we are searching for a variety of shows and kiosks where we can present our items and do offline sales. 

A budget must be set aside for digital marketing activities like product photoshoots and social media campaigns in order to market the products. 

A digital marketing budget must be set aside for the products' promotion.

The fundamental workings of our project rely on the procurement of stubble waste and industrial byproducts from farmers and processing the same into a carbon-negative patented material agrocrete. We follow a dynamic B2B and B2C model through which we aim to make a mark in both channels. Our target audience caters to environmentally conscious consumers belonging to all generations of homeowners. Our B2B model is supported by exhibitions, art galleries, interior designers and corporates, whereas in our B2C model, we promote and sell our products through our website, exhibitions and kiosks. A major part of our funds come from sales and grants or funds that we acquire by entering our business in competitions. At present most of our marketing is done online, as it is best suited to reach our target audience, simultaneously we also market our products at offline events that cater to our audience. 

Our costing has been carefully curated while keeping in mind various aspects such as labor, CAC (Consumer acquisition cost), packaging, raw material, industrial equipment, etc.

The business strategy for Project Ibtida will be dynamic, utilizing both B2B and B2C channels to increase profitability and operational scale. We'll be introducing our magnificent line of home decor products on our own ecommerce website as part of our B2C approach. Additionally, our items will be available on Sanscrete, a brand we created in partnership with Greenjams, which has an online store. 

In order to display and list our products for our B2B model, we will get in touch with various interior designers and store owners. 

At this point, our reliance on grants, money, and investments from our partners as well as from other national and international contests are very substantial.