Ready-to-Cast Sustainable Composite

For inching towards a Net Zero economy, the Indian government implemented measures in 2019 to restrict the establishment of new red clay brick kilns & encourage existing ones to convert to fly-ash based materials.  While these initiatives aimed to reduce pollution, top-soil erosion, & fly-ash waste, they also poised significant challenges for 80% of unorganized players in the industry. They faced difficulties in procurement, operations, & business continuity due to raw material shortages (including fly-ash) & lack of adaptability & empowerment. As a result, the construction sector has still remained outdated & unsustainable, producing low-quality products & posing risks to the environment, consumers and ultimately the society.

Moreover, Earth Overshoot Day, occurring earlier each year, exacerbates the situation. The overconsumption of Earth's resources more earlier than ever is particularly evident in the extraction of sand from rivers and gravel by screening rocks for construction, further strains the rivers’ ecology [1] [2], planet [3] and the industry as well. Construction industry consumes over half of the extracted volume annually. Aggregates, however, is the most-consumed natural resource on the planet besides water. Humans use some 50 billion tons of “aggregate” every year – the industry term for sand and gravel, which tend to be found together as well as separate. This imbalance in resource availability and supply disrupts business operations and affects pricing.

We cannot extract 50 billion tons per year of any material without leading to massive impacts on the planet and thus on people’s lives - Pascal Peduzzi

Hence, we are working towards narrowing overall raw material 'Availability vs Supply' gap of unadaptable and unorganized community of ‘Construction Products Manufacturers’, whilst upgrading them with product-process innovation & making them environmentally, socially, & economically effective thus, sustainable.

For narrowing raw material 'Availability & Supply' gap and offering a long due upgrade to the construction sector, we conceptualized a two-pronged innovation strategy:

1) Through 'Eco-Innovation' we introduce alternatives to Fly-Ash and Natural Resources in order to reduce reliance of ‘Construction Sector’ on them and shift to other sustainable yet qualitative raw materials too.
2) Implementing 'Product-Process Innovation' we create and offer opportunities to ‘Construction Sector' for getting empowered with long due scientific product upgrades and result oriented process interventions, that too hassle free and without investing an additional penny.
Further, we harmonized the two by utilizing the principles of 'Circularity' and 'Residual Valorization' to introduce ‘Sustainable Composite’ [1]. A comprehensive product which makes casting of 'Pre-Cast and Masonry Construction Products' such as paver blocks, ramp tiles, bricks, and blocks etc. super-duper easy, whilst increasing their impact as well as quality.

Along with getting a well-researched & scientific product, the construction sector also gets to streamline its procure-to-produce processes. All this helps construction sector in resolving gaps in raw material procurement, being environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable, thus adaptable. In totality, the products casted from 'Sustainable Composite' are 70-80% sustainable, 4.34% more strong, 25% pocket friendlier, exhibit 63.7% less water absorption, reduced cracking, negligible saltpeter and 88.7% better freeze-thaw resistance than the existing products.

Additionally, the solution/product has been based on following aspects:

1) The Principle:
Leveraged 'Circularity' and ‘Residual Valorization’ to identify and adopt varied categories of residue as sustainable alternatives of fly-ash and natural resources which primarily originate from rivers and other natural phenomenon. Prime categories from where the alternatives are identified and derived are:
* Municipal Solid Discard,
* Agri-Industrial Discard, and
* Construction & Demolition Discard

2) The Technology:
Based on 'Technology of Formulation' to develop formulations of compatible compounds which addresses unwanted, life reducing, thus, problem generating Alkali Silica & Calcium Hydroxide chemical reactions which react with water, makes the products porous and leads to cracks. 

3) The Workability:
Successfully conducted researches in the direction of obtaining such compounds as well as isolates which not just bond well with each other to achieve strength, but achieve several other globally laid parameters too. It includes reduced water absorption, negligible efflorescence, resistance to freeze-thaw and abrasion.

4) The Methodology:
By replacing toughly available fly-ash and rapidly depleting, environmentally degrading raw materials with alternatives derived from varied categories of residue.

EcoAsylum fields 'Construction Sector' through B2B channel and serves 'Pre-Cast & Masonry Construction Products Manufacturers'.

In terms of size, the total available market of construction aggregates was valued at USD 1.37 trillion in 2024 is projected to grow to USD 1.86 trillion by 2032, exhibiting a CAGR of 3.9% during this period. Out of this the serviceable addressable market of sustainable building materials was valued at USD 205 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach USD 755 billion by the end of 2030, with a CAGR of approximately 15% from 2023 to 2030. Further, the serviceable obtainable market was valued at USD 45 billion in 2023.

We are working towards narrowing the plight of our target population in terms of raw material 'Availability vs Supply' gap, whilst upgrading them with product-process interventions & make them environmentally, socially, & economically sustainable, thus adaptable to their problems and external changes. 

Consequently, we've developed ‘Sustainable Composite’ which is a comprehensive solution developed through valorizing varied categories of discard. The first thing which it does is offer alternatives of Fly-Ash and Natural Resources in order to reduce reliance of ‘Construction Products Manufacturers’ on them and ease shift to other sustainable yet qualitative raw materials too. Second, it empowers them with with long due scientific product upgrades and result oriented process interventions, that too hassle free and without investing an additional penny.

With using the 'Sustainable Composite' manufacturers gets to streamline procurement, de-carbonize supply chain, make procure-to-produce processes leaner, ease shift to sustainable production, and further reduce production costs. Resultantly, they get to cast products that are 70-80% sustainable, 4.34% more strong and 25% pocket friendlier than the existing ones.

All this helps our target audience in resolving gaps in raw material procurement, in being environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable, thus adaptable.

Multiple convincing factors, including a thriving market and governmental support are paving way for us to anticipate opportunities, receive interests, and deliver solution. Situated in Northern India, within the 'National Capital Region', which is witnessing a surge in construction activities, indicative of the substantial growth projected in the construction market, is estimated to reach USD 1.4 trillion by 2025 with a projected CAGR of 6% until 2027.

Additionally, the solution offered by us in tandem to the challenges faced by 'Construction Product Manufacturers' is also helping us position us in an encouraging manner. Also a more confident trend is being observed in the sustainable construction material space considering the government policies and increased overall sensitization on sustainable production as well as consumption. 

Moreover, the problems as well as the solution was analyzed by conducting personal interviews with our target population. Every bit of the problem being targeted has directly come from the players (target population) of the affected community. All this was facilitated by the support of our esteemed advisor who happens to be a professor of structural engineering in a premiere educational institution. Leveraging his expertise and network, we are poised to realize our future plans and vision.

In addition, rigorous lab testing has validated the effectiveness of our product's applications, and we're ready to move forward with pilot cum commercialization, with confirmed interest from a couple of last mile construction sites.

Also leading our endeavor is Sahil Sharma, who has been the founder and flag bearer of this project and has been spearheading journey of its conceptualization, exploration, formulation and research. Recognized by the Indian Government with a micro grant for prototyping, Sahil is also esteemed by UNDP & UNESCO as an SDG School Alumni and acknowledged by the South Africa-INDIA Youth BRICS Youth Forum as an outstanding delegate.

Post investing 1.5 years, 32 interactions with beneficiaries and experts, 12 material explorations, 1 Pivot, 11 iterations, 4 failures, 2 Rounds Tests, 6 Nos. of Tests we've finalized our product. The same has thoroughly been tested vis-a-vis market samples on several parameters in a couple of NABL certified labs, and has exceeded market results as well as benchmarks. Accordingly, we have also started receiving interests from last mile project sites for delivering the products casted from our solution.

Alongside, currently we don't have customers yet, and are therefore a pre-revenue entity.

Though EcoAsylum has progressed effectively, however, we still have several critical areas where we require more awareness and learning through guidance. We are applying because we believe MIT SOLVE would offer opportunities of gaining that awareness, broadening perspective, exploring collaboration, and gaining recognition. 

More specifically we couldn't really zeroed in:
1) On more relevant, tailored, and economical marketing tactics for ourselves. What we've currently planned is something generic, but would require out of the box tactics to really stand out. Our target population is unorganized and different in many aspects, so, would require interventions other than generic and digital ones to reach out and engage them.

2) Payment collection tactics - This sector apart from staying outdated till now is also infamous because of high credit cycle. This particularly has become an implicit norm which is a tough nut to crack. So, would require insights related to mending or overcoming this as well.

3) Making 'Sustainable', 'Smart' as well - After launching the 'Sustainable Composite' we plan to make it 'Smart' too in short-term. We plan to load it with features concurrent to the purpose of our product & its applications as well as with genuine aspirations of our target population.

Following aspects make our solution innovative:
• It addresses various challenges, have multiple applications without logistical issues boosts nod & scalability.

• Has Differentiated Composition – Most players prefer Fly Ash & Waste Plastics, but we target other categories of discard, addressing their menace too.

• Quality at Pocket Friendly Pricing - It casts applications with reduced water absorption, cracking, saltpeter; making them 70-80% greener, 4.34% stronger, & 25% economical than traditional.

• Product coupled with inherent Process Improvements - Improves Procure-to-Manufacture processes-leans procurement, supply chain & eases shift to sustainable manufacturing.

• High extent of Sustainability - Ours stands at 70-80%, compared to others claiming it at only 20-30%.

• Greater Scalability & Impact – The solutions tackles varied challenges & casts multiple applications, with no logistical constraints, making it highly adoptable. Increased acceptance = greater scale & impact.

Our impact goals are as follows:

1) Waste Valorized or Diverted
2) Resources Extraction Reduction
3) Carbon Emissions Reduction
4) Cost Savings

Additionally, following metrics will collectively help us measure the progress of our impact:
Firstly, by tracking the volume of waste diverted from landfills through valorization. 

Secondly, by tracking the volume of natural resources less extracted from various sources. 

Thirdly, by calculating reduction in carbon emissions at our target population's end by means of making their supply chain lean. Fourthly, assessing the number of partnerships established with local communities and businesses to promote sustainable waste practices. 

Fourthly, analyzing cost savings achieved through adoption of our solution. Lastly, conducting surveys or feedback loops to gauge public perception and behavior change towards waste disposal.

Our solution/product is based on following aspects:

1) The Principle:
Leveraged 'Circularity' and ‘Residual Valorization’ to identify and adopt varied categories of residue as sustainable alternatives of fly-ash and natural resources which primarily originate from rivers and other natural phenomenon. Prime categories from where the alternatives are identified and derived are:
* Municipal Solid Discard,
* Agri-Industrial Discard, and
* Construction & Demolition Discard

2) The Technology:
Based on 'Technology of Formulation' to develop formulations of compatible compounds which addresses unwanted, life reducing, thus, problem generating Alkali Silica & Calcium Hydroxide chemical reactions which react with water, makes the products porous and leads to cracks. 

3) The Workability:
Successfully conducted researches in the direction of obtaining such compounds as well as isolates which not just bond well with each other to achieve strength, but achieve several other globally laid parameters too. It includes reduced water absorption, negligible efflorescence, resistance to freeze-thaw and abrasion.

4) The Methodology:
By replacing toughly available fly-ash and rapidly depleting, environmentally degrading raw materials with alternatives derived from varied categories of residue.

We are team of two founders who are working on the solution currently, and we haven't employed anybody yet.

We've been working on this solution since 1.5 years.

The underlying value that with which we work is based on 2Cs - Cohesiveness & Co-opetition.

We've planned to ply on the 'Production Business Model', to cater to 'Pre-Cast & Masonry Construction Products Manufacturers' via 'B2B' channel. More specifically we would be targeting unorganized manufacturers among them. They would be supplied our 'Sustainable Composite' for casting varied products like bricks, blocks, paver blocks, ramp tiles etc.

We plan to generate revenue via ‘Double Whammy’ strategy; by adopting twin, yet related revenue streams under the 'Production Business Model’.

The first one pertains to ‘Production & Supply’ of our product i.e. ‘Composite’, which will be supplied via B2B channel to  'Pre-Cast & Masonry Construction Products Manufacturers'.

And the second pertains to downcycling a particular category of ‘Municipal Solid Waste’. The produce of which will be utilized for captive consumption (as one of the raw materials for our own product), as well as for supplying it to other manufacturers for its utilization in varied other applications.