Tagline
Hemp-based Biodegradable Plastics
Pitch us on your solution
Aside from the agricultural boom that local farmers would experience when given the chance to grow hemp, with all its related benefits, it would provide a Sustainable and Carbon Negative alternative to the plastics currently being used throughout the american continent and, sadly, eventually pilling up in our oceans.
With hemp-based plastics people across the region will he able to keep using plastics as currently required and with the benefits they intail but with a green, non-polluting source instead of the ones currently available to the general public.
We also forsee a thriving market where enterprenuers and citizens alike can create new kinds of products and services utilizing these materials alongside technologies such as 3D printing to better assist their enviroment and their communities.
Pura Vida!
What is the problem you are solving?
The necessity of utilizing plastics is a worldwide one, and it's not going away soon. And the culture around their use is also one of the major factors contributing to the pollution and general degradation of rivers, beaches and wildlife.
Hence we believe that focusing on changing the source of these plastics and their carbon footprint is a solution that can be implemented without disrupting the lives of the general population while driving transition away from polluting materials.
Who are you serving?
We are a Costa Rican initiative but we seek to provide alternative solutions for the common problems that are currently shared hy cities and rural communities alike throughout the continent.
We want to lead by example as a country which can inspire our neighbors and the entire world by designing a functional and scalable template for how a nation's phase-out of polluting plastics program may be successful and apply it locally for others to study and adapt accordingly.
What is your solution?
Anywhere from water bottles to entire houses made from one of the most (if not the most) eco-friendly and carbon neutral sources can be provided to the general population in order to demonstrate what a transition away from old, polluting materials looks like.
As mentioned above 3D printing has opened new and exciting possibilities for citizens and business alike. But the beauty of hemp lies in the fact that entire factories that currently produce polluting plastics can transition away from such by just changing the primary source of their craft without needing to adapt their machines and equipment.
Select only the most relevant.
Where our solution team is headquartered or located:
San Jose, Costa RicaOur solution's stage of development:
PilotDescribe what makes your solution innovative.
While we ourselves are inspired by the Colorado Hemp Plastics community in the USA, among others, we do believe that our innovation will be demonstrated by the cheer amount of different implementations of a single plant-based material we can create and source locally, aside from a boost of the country's economy derived from such a new industry with a worldwide expansion already underway.
We believe we can be pioneers in designing new and innovative applications and products based on our communities' specific needs and talent of our people in order to clean or rivers and oceans while also making sure we do not keep contributing to these issues as a society.
Why do you expect your solution to address the problem?
Our enviroment is a reflection of us as a society.
The Data is clear: we cannot affect change on a macro level unless we initiate said change at the micro level first.
Hence why we aim to target the individual, their personal culture and behavior around the use, reuse and recycling of plastics, and in doing so provide the tools necessary for all of us to generate legitimate change and momentum as a worldwide society.
Select the key characteristics of the population your solution serves
In which countries do you currently operate?
In which countries will you be operating within the next year?
How many people are you currently serving with your solution? How many will you be serving in one year? How about in five years?
1. Less than 1000
2. 100,000
3. As many as humanly possible
How do you measure your solution’s positive impact? If available, what measurable impact have you had in the last three years?
- Environmental
Less pollution from non-sustainable materials
More biodegradeable plastics for general use
- Social
Less cultural resistance to non-common materials sources
- Economical
New income sources for local farmers
New carbon negative products and services for the general population
What are your goals within the next year and within the next five years?
Expand to a country-wide initiative that can then also expand to other neighboring countries.
Provide scalable solutions for the Costa Rican communities that can be adopted on a worldwide scale
What are the barriers that currently exist for you to accomplish your goals for the next year and for the next five years?
Financing for local production and importation of materials and associated technologies.
Politcal hurdles to overcome as some laws and institutions regarding the local sourcing of hemp is to be updated ASAP.
How are you planning to overcome these barriers?
Crowdfunding and Legislative projects.
Please select one.
If you selected “I am planning to expand my solution to Latin America and the Caribbean,” please provide an overview of your expansion plans. What is the market opportunity for your business or product in Latin America and the Caribbean?
The market is ripe for these kinds of solutions and products as the use and need for plastics grows each day, yet very few (if any) alternatives are currently being offered within Costa Rica and all Latin American countries.
That's where our initiative comes in.
What type of organization is your solution team?
Hybrid of for-profit and nonprofitHow many people work on your solution team?
5 non payed enthusiasts
For how many years have you been working on your solution?
2
Why are you and your team best placed to deliver this solution?
We have the knowledge and experience required to communicate the urgent need for an effective transition to non-polluting and carbon negative materials.
We have been working with farmers, communities and businesses for more than 2 years now on education and bringing these tangible solutions to the awareness of the general public.
With what organizations are you currently partnering, if any? How are you working with them?
Costa Rica Alchemy, Costa Rica Cultiva and Fundación Madre Tierra Verde
All of which are as committed as we are to solving the climate crisis by designing and producing alternative products and services to motivate a smooth transition from currently used materials.
Why are you applying to the Rethink Plastics Challenge?
Mainly Funding and Scalability.
We have ways to handle both even if we are not selected, however we believe that a faster pace would be of great assistance to accomplishing our short term goals and be able to provide our solutions to a worldwide market
What types of connections and partnerships would be most catalytic for your solution?
Solution Team
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Our Solution:
Hemplast