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Hey Plastic Waste! EcoGo-Away!

Introducing EcoGo,

An Environmentally-Friendly

Alternative For Food Packaging

Octavio Badillo, Tiffany Yan, Richard Zhang, Tim Low

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Researchers’ Roles

Tim Low:

Principal Designer & Creative Officer

Tiffany Yan: Project Manager & Market Analyst

Richard Zhang: Financial Officer & Technology Officer

Octavio Badillo:

Developer

& Product Manager

Our group collage! ✨

Tiffany

Introducing Octavio, our developer and product manager. Octavio leverages his programming and developer skills to help work on our product and is at the forefront of EcoGo’s innovation.

Tim spearheads EcoGo’s design functionality and aesthetics as the Principal Designer and Creative Officer. With strong skills in visual and user experience design, Tim's approach is deeply rooted in creating designs that speak to EcoGo's core values while also resonating with consumers.

Richard has been studying the landscape of start-ups and business growth in the technology sector and has great knowledge and experience regarding the scaling of a business from a startup to an IPO.

Tiffany utilizes her research and analysis skills to understand consumer behavior, consumer preferences, market trends, and competitors to provide actionable insights and recommendations for EcoGo’s mission.

And finally, we have our group collage!

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Agenda

1. Researchers’ Roles

2. Introduction

3. Related Research

5. Longevity Plan

6. Schedule

7. Conclusion & References

4. Approach & Proposed Tasks

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The year is 2075…

You’re rudely awakened by a loud knocking on your front door.

You begrudgingly slink out of bed, letting out a deep, hefty cough, something you have become quite acclimated to these days.

You open the door angrily after the stranger knocks again impatiently�

“What do you wa-”

EVICTION

NOTICE

Your residence lies within a zone the government desires to repurpose into a garbage disposal site.

Please be out by the end of the month.

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But there is still HOPE…

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Introduction

The Problem

Plastic waste threatens our oceans, wildlife, and environment.
Large amounts of plastic waste from foodware* products in the United States

*foodware includes tupperware containers, bowls, plates, cups, lids, utensils, etc.

The Solution

Biodegradable foodware dispenser machines.
Planted in high foot traffic areas for convenient access.

Less plastic waste added to the environment.
Raise eco-conscious levels in implemented areas.

The Future

The world is drowning in plastic waste, with millions of tons produced every year. Single-use plastic foodware contributes significantly to this crisis, posing a severe threat to our oceans, wildlife, and the environment. Current disposal practices fall short, exacerbating the global plastic predicament.

Ecogo stands as a beacon of change in the face of plastic pollution. Our innovative dispenser/vending machines offer a sustainable alternative by providing consumers with biodegradable foodware. This revolutionary approach aims to combat the environmental impact of single-use plastics, marking a crucial step towards a cleaner, greener future.

Imagine a world where every meal is served with a side of responsibility. Ecogo paves the way for a future where single-use plastics are replaced by eco-friendly alternatives. By embracing this shift, we not only mitigate the current crisis but set the stage for a circular economy that prioritizes environmental harmony. Join us in creating a legacy of sustainability for generations to come.

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EcoGo’s Dispenser Machine

Image generated by DALL·E. 3 Model

Display

Payment

Dispenser

Storage

Maintenance Box

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Environmental Impact of Plastic Waste

In the last 74 years, the production of plastics has surged from approximately 0.5 million tons in 1950 to over 260 million tons in 2024. [2]
Plastic debris has affected over 260 species, leading to health issues such as reduced reproductive success, lacerations, and even death. [2]
Current Methods of Addressing Plastic Waste [3]

Recycling
Incineration
Biodegradation

So how do we address our plastic dilemma?

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Environmental Insights

Biodegradation stands out as a practical alternative to plastics, turning biodegradable waste into useful soil amendments [3]
Despite common beliefs, glass and metal can be environmentally toxic; paper products, while popular, require more energy to produce than plastics and become non-recyclable once soiled [1]
San Diego, ranked as America's greenest city by WalletHub, serves as our launchpad, leveraging its high eco-awareness [6]

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Approach/Proposed Tasks

Market and Location Analysis

Consumer Education and Awareness

Collaboration and Partnership Development

Product Deployment and Promotion

Tiffany Yan

Moving onto our approach and proposed tasks, we have four major categories that we will be focusing on:

First, is Market and location analysis: .

We will Initiate by conducting an exhaustive market and location analysis to identify densely populated urban areas with a high concentration of restaurants, food vendors, and retailers
This step involves analyzing demographic data, consumer behavior, and existing food packaging trends to determine optimal locations for the deployment of our biodegradable foodware dispensers.
Engagement with local businesses and stakeholders will be crucial to assess the market's readiness and openness to adopting sustainable packaging solutions.

The second major category is consumer education and awareness, we need to:

Understand the critical role of consumer acceptance and support, and develop and implement a comprehensive education and awareness campaign.
This campaign will highlight the environmental impacts of non-biodegradable food packaging and the benefits of switching to eco-friendly alternatives.
We aim to raise awareness and foster a community of environmentally conscious consumers through workshops, social media, partnerships with environmental organizations, and interactive platforms.
In addition, we will be leveraging paid advertisement through various social media platforms as well as traditional news sources.

The third major category includes Collaboration and Partnership Development, to ensure that:

The feasibility and success of introducing biodegradable foodware. We will need to establish collaborative relationships with local suppliers, manufacturers, and vendors.
This task involves negotiating cost-sharing agreements and long-term contracts to maintain affordability and supply consistency.
Our efforts will also extend to fostering partnerships with waste management companies to facilitate the composting of used biodegradable materials, aligning with our sustainability goals.
Simultaneously, our machinery division will contact various engineering partners and firms to create and test the feasibility of our vending machine design. Test feedback will be delivered to our design team and they shall conduct further design changes on an as-needed basis.

The last major category will be about Product Deployment and Promotion,

Following the groundwork of market analysis, consumer education, and partnership development, we will launch our biodegradable foodware dispenser system.
This phase includes the strategic placement of dispensers in high-traffic areas, ensuring accessibility for businesses and consumers
Promotion strategies will leverage targeted advertising, free samples, and incentives for early adopters to encourage widespread adoption and consistent use of biodegradable foodware. (Partnerships with environmental activists?)

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Longevity Plan

Utilizing the latest softwares and technologies

Experts from our local partnerships will maintain these machines along with committing future upgrades

Incorporation of software-based pre-orders and on-site recycling

Data Collection and Analysis

Maintenance and Upgrades

Future Directions

Richard Zhang

A crucial aspect of EcoGo's initiative is ensuring the long-term viability and sustainability of our biodegradable foodware dispensers. To this end, our design and operational strategies are centered around cutting-edge technology and a robust maintenance framework, guaranteeing both efficiency and adaptability in the face of evolving environmental and technological landscapes.

Our long-term plan includes focusing on three major areas:

First, is Data Collection and Analysis. Leveraging the latest in 5G network equipments and wireless communication protocols, our dispensers will be ready for both direct power connections and solar energy if needed, depending on their placement locations. Integral to our approach is the implementation of sophisticated data collection software, engineered by our team to track the usage patterns of each dispensers, including the types and quantities of items dispensed and their respective times and dates.This data will serve as a foundation for continuous iterative development, enabling our data scientists to employ advanced artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques to optimize inventory and tailor the offerings of each machine to the specific needs of its users.

The next major area is Maintenance and Upgrades. We are dedicated to the sustained functionality and advancement of our dispensers, adopting a maintenance approach that emphasizes community involvement and expertise by hiring local technicians for routine maintenance and sourcing biodegradable products from nearby suppliers to bolster local economies and provide economic opportunities to marginalized communities. Should local resources prove insufficient, EcoGo's core team will then intervene directly.

The last major focus area is Future directions. Anticipating future trends and challenges is key to our long-term strategy. We are actively exploring the addition of environmentally friendly dining accessories and advanced features like mobile app integration for pre-orders. Furthermore, our future roadmap includes a future on-site recycling program that represents a pioneering step towards a truly circular economical model for one-time user foodware, ensuring that our solutions not only meet the current needs of our customers but also contribute to a sustainable environmental legacy.

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Schedule

Current Development Roadmap

Richard Zhang

Here you can see, is our current development schedule and roadmap. Broken down into four major phases, each phase will require a different length of time. For the first phase, our team will be conducting a broad range of market research, including Market Analysis, User Research, and Stakeholder Engagement. This phase will take approximately between 4 to 8 weeks. The next phase will be about Design and Prototyping. In this phase, we will be working on fulfilling design requirements, creating prototypes, conducting usability testing, and finalizing our designs. This phase will take anywhere between 11 to 14 weeks. The third phase will be about Pilot & Evaluation. During this phase, we will be launching our product in the pilot program and gather user feedback from machines we have deployed. This phase will last only about 4 weeks in total. Now, the last phase will be all about implementation. During this phase, we will be working on Iterative improvements, official product launch, product marketing, conducting impact assessments, outlining future roadmap & expansion. The last phase will need anywhere between 14 to 18 weeks.

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Conclusion

The Problem

The Future

Plastic waste accumulation needs to be halted.
Non-biodegradable food storage products contribute a lot.

EcoGo–We want a green future with less plastic waste!

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The Solution:

EcoGo

Invest in EcoGo today so we can build a greener tomorrow.

Thank you!

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References

[1] P. Proof, “10 sustainable food packaging companies to support (2022),” YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qv6E7LZyapA&ab_channel=PlanetProof

[2] Thompson, Richard C., et al. “Plastics, the environment and human health: current consensus and future trends.” Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences, vol. 364,1526 (2009): 2153-66. doi:10.1098/rstb.2009.0053

[3] Song, J H., et al. “Biodegradable and compostable alternatives to conventional plastics.” Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences, vol. 364,1526 (2009): 2127-39. doi:10.1098/rstb.2008.0289

[4] Laroche, M., Bergeron, J., and Barbaro-Forleo, G. “Targeting consumers who are willing to pay more for environmentally friendly products.” Journal of Consumer Marketing, Vol. 18 No. 6, (2001), pp. 503-520.

[5] H. Andrews, "These are the seven greenest states in the US – and the seven least green," New York Post, April 18, 2022, 12:30 p.m. https://nypost.com/2022/04/18/these-are-the-seven-greenest-states-in-the-us-and-the-seven-least-green/

[6] Y. Kempe, "What are the 'greenest' US cities?" Smart Cities Dive, October 6, 2023. https://www.smartcitiesdive.com/news/greenest-us-cities-environmentally-friendly-study/695777/

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Color palette