Tran$forma®

On a normal day, we end up, somehow, using banknotes.  Digital currencies and online payments are gaining steam and the future of paper money may be in jeopardy. This will happen on the long run. Meanwhile we are dealing with the most accessible monetary object to anyone; bank notes.

Production of banknotes generates contaminant residues. Chips and trims of currency paper are the most problematic since they contain same number of contaminants as a bank note itself. These chips and trims are shredded and incinerated and disposed as ashes resulting in a low efficient process and an environmentally questionable procedure.

Our proposal is to transform these chips and trims into a new raw material, aiming a productive chain designed for Circular Economy, working traceability and reverse logistics, energy efficiency and social promotion.

We sought an environmental, economically viable and socially engaged alternative to address a specific problem of the Brazilian Mint; the discard of paper money chips and trims to comply a National Policy on Solid Waste.

At first, we thought of a local scale solution, restricted to our unit, but the exchange of information among Mints around the world warned us that this was a recurring problem with no satisfactory alternative.

If you consider chips and trims generated volume, it would probably not affect the world population but when you include other environmental liabilities like the discards of banknotes withdrawn from circulation, the volume gets immense; 3,000 tons only in Brazil.

A factor that contributes to the buildup of the problem is that when dealing with banknote production the problem gets restricted to 11 locations while dealing with the discard of banknotes, there are so many players involved (Central and regional banks and their branches) that it is hardly impossible, considering all countries, an ecologically correct disposal.

Considering the fact that our solution is scalable we can reach any location suffering this problem.

Since this is a global problem, we believe that we serve everyone, without distinction. We know that within the great afflictions’ mankind is suffering, this seems to be a lesser problem but it is an eternal problem that has never encountered a viable fix. We came up with a solution involving costs reductions, the correct disposal of this material with an eventual financial return to Mints, but mainly, that the most affected community (residing near the sites of incineration and ground disposal) could participate in this project, placing production centers, hiring local manpower, promoting environmental education, investing in local development and the implementation of a culture based on the Circular Economy.

We pick up the chips and trims from the Mint. They go through a process of transparent encapsulation to build different products; from furniture to decorative objects. Traceability and return policy guaranteed.

We are offering different solutions though they are all linked.

The Mint:

We pick up the chips and trims from the Mint manufacturing plant. We seize the return of our empty trucks from other deliveries, reducing fossil fuel and CO² emissions. We storage this new raw material, releasing space in the Mint and we use idle areas of our facilities; we eliminate the Mint cost of contracting of a company to dispose waste and their constant compliance audits  avoiding the breakdown of the disposal environmental chain; compliance with the National Solid Waste Policy law and encourage of the Circular Economy principles.

Tran$forma:

A new source of alternative raw material obtained from disposals, preserving primary sources of raw material; Very competitive acquisition cost, reducing expenses and generating venues to the Mint; Withholding of patents and technical projects for the application of this solution, expanding the intangible capital of Tran$forma; 10-year agreement for exclusive absorption of this material, projecting longevity; initially we plan to take advantage of the idle space of the industrial park and subsequently expanding the area for specific the project, reducing costs while expanding the plant 100% in 2 years; Opening of a new nonexistent breach in the market, (pioneerism); a project fully based on the principles of Circular Economy.

Social:

The community will be engaged in this project through the hiring of local manpower. Partnerships are planned along with training institutions that will have available spaces for courses and lectures; the incorporation of youngsters will be prioritized as in the Certified B Corp principles.

Environment:

End of aerial and ground residual discard. Creation of new family of “green “products subsequent to the circular economy principles. Factories with scalable modular units with low environmental impact.

Regarding procedures and technology, they are already available and used at the industry but with other materials. 

The innovation we are bringing is the transformation of waste which has already been tested in other solving situations. For example, use in construction, for asphalt pavements, as fertilizers ... without any viable result.

Our alternative not only brings a solution but adds value to the product, transforming waste into a new noble raw material and allowing countless cycles in the reuse chain.

The core of this project is sustainability and social promotion.

We use natural and synthetic transparent resins for “wrapping” the chips and trims so they stay visible. Furniture made of this material will be destined to corporations. They will receive unique numbering and they will be closely tracked via RFID and geolocalization devices (GPS). When renting this furniture payments will be made through blockchain currency. After a certain use or wear out of items, these products will return to Tran$forma and be reprocessed into the chain.

For those items with a difficulty in the return flow, Tran$forma will guarantee the neutralization of the carbon footprint by reforesting areas and an easy access for returning products.

We know that this problem – solution seems basic in detriment of mankind’s other complications but we strongly believe we’ve found a definite solution like never before. We found a resignification of a contaminant, turning it into a noble and high value raw material in a project engaging stakeholders, withholding a strong social promotion and environmental care.

There is no current research on how many people can be helped with this initiative neither on  how many are affected by the current system but we believe that with this solution we can neutralize this source of contamination, reduce the use of raw materials and natural resources 
and become a source of revenue for the re birthing of a more conscious society.

At the moment, during the closure of our contract with the Brazilian Mint, we are handling 10 people.

During our 1st operational year, there will be 50 people involved directly and those coming from the waste processing area, indirectly.

In five years, we will be involving directly 115 people, plus the production community, approximately 1000 people. We have to include our partners and suppliers, reaching more than 500 people.  From damaged and out of circulation collection centers another 60 people and, indirectly, all those from the waste processing area. Not to mention the export of this technologies and the consulting lectures. 

This year and the next one are intended to be for field measurements and validations, both scale production data and customers’ acceptance.

We expect to triple our production capacity by the next 5 years. Also getting into the first transformation cycle with the material originally collected. Having totally developed our social work among the community. Starting with our first conferences for all Mints and banks around the world. We hope we have developed our modular system (using containers) to streamline the implementation and operation of new units anywhere in the world.

Our major barrier is currently the financial one because we can’t commit the company’s resources to this project that will need investment for at least 3 years until it hits the break even point.

Other major barrier we believe we will encounter is the perception that chips and trims and out of circulation banknotes are not considered recycled material or contaminants but raw materials turning idle due to its applicability.

Financially we seek for outright grants as well as government financial aid with long term lease, research and development funds.

As for the environmental issue, we trust that the Mint as well as other institutions supporting this initiative, will work to change the category classification of the materials, bringing only benefits for a series of other initiatives.

Full time personnel at the moment:  2

Part time: 4

Hired: 2

Other co-workers: 4

We had the idea to process the material. We came across the solution. We partnered with Exchange 4 change Brasil, a circular economy specialized company, to be able to prototype a business solution to bring the material to the market as a service rather than a product securing the traceability requirements. Legislation on patents & trademarks took us a long time to get the approval and when we got it, we signed a contract with the Brazilian Mint to begin the viability research. Today we are in the process of having the exclusivity on the raw material (chips & trims) ensuring viability and continuity for investments.

We are ready and we’ve got almost all situations equated.

The Brazilian Mint who is granting us the exclusivity of the raw material and

Exchange 4 Change Brasil who will be developing the business model with us. 

Briefly, our business model seeks to remove from the environment a product known to be a contaminant. Once removed we will redefine it and give it a noble destiny, working along with institutions that need to mitigate their environmental impacts. With the results obtained, we will work together with the community close to the manufacturing units, providing conditions for human development and ecological awareness.

Part of the initial value should come from our working capital, direct investment of the partners that own the Tran$forma project. Other investments include the utilization of the manufacturing unit idleness (a POS furniture and tech producer) and the remaining 60% will come from financial institutions and research and development funding bodies.

During the first 3 years clients are guaranteed; state banks that will lease our furniture to reduce their expense furniture exchange and to comply with the solid waste law and mitigate their environmental impact.

Our flow planning for the next 10 years was elaborated according to a pessimistic scenario for us to work in the most critical conditions. With this in mind we are aware of the negative flow until half of the second year of operation, achieving balance by our third year and full recovery of invested amounts (already corrected) in the fourth year.

We want Tran$forma to gain recognition for its innovation. We want Tran$forma to be studied as a solution to other problems. We want Tran$forma to be the kick-off for the formation of a global society that consciously thinks and consumes within the principles of Circular Economy. We desire to be recognized, after certification, as a B Corp.

This is why we are applying to Solve. 

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Solve - ONU - MIT - GM

Mint's around the globe

Private & Public banks - Research & Development Institutions - Architect & Design Schools and Universities.

B Corps and Circular economy institutions and foundations.

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The prize will be used exclusively for the educational project of the communities that were previously affected by the discard of these materials. It will be extended as well to all stakeholders involved and for an active and conscious promotion of the Circular Economy culture. We plan also, due to our easy access to digital media, to bring this solution to each community in Brazil and a dream come true… to the world. We will only be able to live in this world if we change the way we consume our lives in it.

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