Green Final Project Proposal

The sustainability challenge I am addressing revolves around organic food waste management generated by households. Specifically, I focus on organic waste, excluding leftovers, typically discarded directly into garbage bins dumped into landfills.

The negative impact is significant, spanning household financial losses, nutrient depletion, high disposal costs, and contributions to greenhouse gas emissions and environmental pollution.

As a business enthusiast, I am inspired by the untapped market potential. While many businesses and startups are targeting opportunities like plastic, paper, and even foil waste, there is a lack of clear solutions addressing organic food waste at the household level.

I think this contributes to more than one SGD

SDG 3: Good health and well-being

SGD 4: Affordable and clean being

SGD 11: Sustainable cities and communities  

SGD 12: Responsible consumption and production

 > Social impact:

1. Does your project address the need to reduce household organic waste and its associated environmental and economic impacts?

Yes, the project directly reduces the amount of organic food waste by using it as an input material for paper upcycling. This is based on each household's consumption.

2. Can your production process involve community participation or create opportunities for skill development and income generation?

It indirectly contributes to saving rather than income generation. Household users, mostly women, would use this solution on a micro level.

>  Economic impact: 

1. Can your upcycled paper product find a viable market and generate revenue to sustain the project and expand its reach?

There is an existing niche market for environmentally aware users. However, for scalability, this project could be done on a B2B scale with different specs that would suit a larger upcycling capacity.

2. How can you minimize production costs and ensure the upcycled paper is competitively priced compared to traditional paper products?

most of the paper we use is imported from other countries. However the household upcycling alternative nearly costs 0 material.

> Environmental impact: 

1. How will your upcycled paper product encourage sustainable practices among consumers?

The process of turning waste into paper is engaging and fun, which will invite potential users to explore

2.  How can you ensure the upcycled paper is biodegradable and compostable, minimizing its environmental impact at the end of its life cycle?

For now, I am not sure to which extent the alternative upcycled paper will be environmental. However, the newly created paper needs fewer resources overall.

> Natural Resources Impact:

1. Does the project ensure the responsible sourcing of organic peels?

yes, since it's resources  inside each household  based on usage and consumption (relative)

2. Does the solution ensure your production process minimizes the consumption of water and other natural resources?

Yes, since it solves the problem on a small micro level with limited resources and upcycling features 

3D printing:  for the rollers that will create the paper by turning from a paste-like to a paper thickness-like. The reason why 3D printing is the most suitable is due to the cylinder form of the rollers. 

The spinning handle knob (like the pasta machine) also will be created by 3d printing

Laser cutter: for the base of the project, and also for the tray that will act as a bed for the paper material to settle on and dry

The exterior that will carry the rollers will be made of plywood and laser-cutting

> This project will reduce waste by upcycling household organic waste every day. The project will turn the repurposed waste into upcycled recycled paper 

Also, for the base part, recycled plastic can act better as an alternative for the plywood and more sustainable in case the peels can be extra moist

Arduino: Arduino Uno for connecting sensors and actuators.

Sensors: 

1. Weight sensor to weigh the input material
   
   The Weight sensors can measure the amount of organic waste added, ensuring the machine uses just the right amount of material for efficient paper production. Accordingly, the number of trials will be reduced to make the process more efficient. 

2. Moisture Sensor to test the output (optional/nice to have)

Actuators: 

Servo Motor: To automate the rolling mechanism.
(I want to create a partially motorized mechanism that will reduce the manual effort of rolling using the handle)  

saving human power speeding the process for less power usage.