Circularr, a blockchain-powered recycle-to-earn ecosystem
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Circularr

Blockchain-powered recycle-to-earn ecosystem

  • Blockchain
  • Web
  • Mobile
  • FinTech
  • Recycling
  • Sustainability

About the client

Circularr was founded with the aims of driving consumer behavioral change and developing sustainable crypto assets that are underpinned by the value of recycled commodities, with its first asset Circularr Plastic Coin ($CIRP) focused on changing the way that the world treats and interacts with plastic waste.The company’s values are aligned with its core goal of creating a Circularr Economy for all plastic bottles and keeping them out of our oceans and natural environments forever.

Details

PixelPlex worked alongside the client to carry out development of a multicomponent recycling network with built-in support for third-party applications and integrations, including reverse vending machines (RVMs). The solution is set to streamline interactions between consumers, recyclers, and manufacturers, optimize the entire plastic recycling process, and decrease pollution levels while driving consumer behavioral change. While the solution is initially focused on plastic, it has been architected to expand to aluminum and glass thereafter.

Team

  • Development lead
  • React native developers3
  • Backend developers3
  • QA engineers2
  • Tech consultants2
  • Project manager
  • Business analyst

Project goals

  • 1

    Design a recycling ecosystem consisting of different tools and apps for all parties involved in the recycling process

  • 2

    Provide a robust framework that can be easily integrated into existing 3rd party software and infrastructure, thus allowing for a rapid development

  • 3

    Introduce a high-level business strategy

  • 4

    Execute the ecosystem’s connection and adjustment with reverse vending machines

  • 5

    Work out and implement a comprehensive tokenomics strategy and flow

Work done

  • Fully-fledged plastic waste recycling network
  • Integration of reverse vending machine software with the backend of the admin panel
  • Convenient admin panel for managing the ecosystem’s core processes
  • Cross-platform mobile user wallet for managing tokens
  • Advanced track & trace app for tracking plastic waste management

Project background

Plastic waste and pollution have attracted mounting concerns in recent years. It’s been reported that around 380 million tons of plastic are produced yearly. Worryingly, this volume is forecast to double by 2040.

Keen to make a difference and alleviate the burden on the environment, our customer decided to develop a sophisticated recycling network that would reduce the level of plastic pollution and incentivize people to take part in optimizing plastic waste management while receiving rewards for their active participation.

The concept envisioned creating a high-tech recycling ecosystem that would bring together plastic waste producers and recyclers and allow the latter to dispose of plastic bottles via connected reverse vending machines.

Three plastic bottles forming a recycling sign

Why effective plastic waste management solutions are needed

380 million

tons of plastic are produced annually

100 million

marine animals are estimated to die from plastic waste each year

Only 1 in 5

plastic bottles are recycled

Up to 1000 years

is needed for a single plastic bottle to decompose

1500 plastic bottles

are thrown away every second daily

To bring this inspiring idea to life, the client reached out to our PixelPlex development team. We joined hands and worked together to produce a solution that would help tackle plastic waste issues and make this world a better place.

Solution

Our team delivered a decentralized, Ripple-powered plastic recycling network comprising an admin panel intended for operating with an extensive database, a mobile wallet for managing tokens, and a cross-platform application for tracking deposited plastic.

We have also successfully integrated the network with RVM software and implemented a high-level tokenomics model, enabling the establishment of a high-end ecosystem and ensuring effective collaboration among all stakeholders.

The UI of the balance and rewards page of Circularr

Technologies used

  • Node.js
  • Nest.js
  • React
  • Next.js
  • React Native
  • PostgreSQL
  • RabbitMQ
  • Ripple

Details

Admin panel

Our development team produced a web admin panel that consists of multiple tools and functionalities needed to efficiently operate with the entire ecosystem, manage its configurations and settings, and carry out oversight functions critical to the network.

The admin panel empowers the admins to accomplish the following:

  • A blue icon of an upward arrowView the ecosystem’s key statistics related to overall profit, reward selling, token performance, number of deployed RVMs, etc.
  • A blue icon of a slider barAdd, manage, and track the list of the network’s partners
  • A blue icon of a gift boxPlace, sell, manage, sort, and advertise rewards as well as creating new ones
  • A blue icon of bottlesMaintain the RVM database and link an RVM to a geographical position on the map
  • A blue icon of a pencil and an avatarProvide and edit information about administrators of the Circularr system (available to the Superadmin only)
  • A blue icon of two peopleAdminister and supervise the user database, track and gather information about Circularr users, resolve account access issues, and so on

Track & trace app

To conveniently track multiple processes occurring at different stages of plastic waste management, the client required our engineers to design a special track & trace application.

The cross-platform mobile app allows users to easily trace and handle the following aspects of the ecosystem:

  • Employee management

    The admin is responsible for adding data about new employees as well as setting up corresponding accounts in the admin panel, and tracking employee status and information such as email, phone number, etc.

  • Collection zones

    Recyclers are distributed in accordance with the collection zone they are assigned to, and they collect plastic from RVMs located in those zones. Using the "Collection zones" blockchain-section, the SuperAdmin has the right to create/edit the data from a collection zone, upload a map showing zone borders, and see all the ecosystem’s zone borders.

  • Block management

    Blocks are crumbled recycling materials. A block order unites a number of assembled blocks that have been collected by the recycler on a single route. The recycling network admin can handle block orders and their navigation, and see and manage their status (delivered, canceled, or in progress).

  • Advertisement

    The admin is able to choose which advertisements to display on a vending machine. They can add and customize advertisements and then link them to a particular RVM.

  • Pellets

    Made from deposited and recycled plastic, pellets can later be used as trading objects in the form of NFTs. The admin can track pellet status at the warehouse, and mint and sell pellet NFTs to partners.

User wallet

Our technical specialists created an easily navigable, cross-platform mobile wallet to enable users to receive and manage token rewards for depositing plastic bottles into vending machines. It allows users to view their balance, transaction history, relevant information about their rewards, purchased coupons, platform partners, and so on.

More importantly, the wallet contains an integrated Google Map functionality that marks RVM machines on the map using special indicators, thus helping a user quickly find an RVM near them. Besides, it provides a complete list of all vending machines available in the region with their corresponding addresses.

The cross-platform wallet possesses a QR-scan functionality. Once a user has found an RVM and deposited their plastic into it, they need to sign into their wallet and scan the QR code for that particular machine. Upon scanning the code, a user earns token rewards and has them transferred to their wallet. Equally, they can choose to send them directly to a charitable organization supported by the platform.

The UI of the transaction history page of Circularr

Why Ripple?

Alongside the customer, we performed thorough research and analysis of multiple blockchains and decided to opt for Ripple because it is one of the most environmentally-friendly protocols.

The Ripple blockchain underpins the recycle-to-earn ecosystem and user wallet and enables NFT minting.

The UI of the rewards page of Circularr next to the logo of Ripple

How the solution works

  • A blue icon of a geotag

    A user finds a supported reverse vending machine on the map and deposits a plastic bottle into it

  • A blue icon of a scanner

    A user scans the QR code on the vending machine and is redirected to their pre-installed mobile wallet to gain tokens for the deposited plastic

  • A blue icon of a token

    A user can exchange received tokens for discounts and gift certificates. Equally, they can sell their token via liquidity pools and receive funds via an online transfer or donate the proceeds to a charity

  • A blue icon of a factory

    A plastic waste producer buys tokens on the market and delegates them to a recycler

  • A blue icon of bottles

    A recycler makes a payment in tokens and receives bottles from a vending machine

  • A blue icon of a route

    The journey of the deposited plastic is traced via the track & trace mobile app

  • A blue icon of a headset

    An admin receives a report about the number of plastic bottles produced and recycled. They also receive an NFT that serves as proof that the plastic has been recycled

Tokenomics concept

Given that the client wanted to incorporate tokens into the recycling system, we conducted numerous sessions and introduced the following tokenomics principles and criteria:

  • 1

    Each reverse vending machine is a wallet, initially pre-loaded with tokens

  • 2

    Users receive their rewards from RVMs into their mobile wallets

  • 3

    Users swap their tokens for discount coupons and gift cards within their wallets

  • 4

    Users can sell their tokens through liquidity pools and either receive funds via an online transfer or donate the proceeds to a charity from a list

  • 5

    Recyclers use wallets to transact with RVMs to retrieve bottles

  • 6

    Recyclers buy tokens from liquidity pools and use centralized wallets for multiple collection vehicles

  • 7

    Corporations buy tokens from liquidity pools using centralized wallets for multiple collection vehicles, and give them to recyclers

  • 8

    The ecosystem’s foundation controls the token supply

Project features

  • A blue icon of a hammerMulticomponent network comprising tools and apps for all stakeholders
  • A blue icon of an aimSophisticated tokenomics strategy
  • A blue icon of a monitorUser-friendly interface
  • A blue icon of two peopleEcosystem integration with RVM software
  • A blue icon of an eyeGreat visibility into the plastic waste management process
  • A blue icon of a gearOpportunity to cooperate effectively within a unified platform for the sake of the environment