Every year Microsoft runs the Imagine Cup with students across the world competing for honors. This year the theme is "Imagine a world where technology enables a sustainable environment".
One of the Aussie finalists, "Team iWater" has created a very cool RFID, web-based solution that informs the wider community on how 'green' the product has been through it's entire lifecycle:
"As consumer goods travel through the supply chain - from production, to distribution, to consumption - there are various activities that have a negative effect on the environment. These activities include:
1) The production of the items - factory pollution (chemical and carbon emissions)
2) The transportation of the items - carbon emissions and chemical pollutants, water supply pollutants
3) The transportation of the consumer to the retail store - possible vehicle carbon emissions
4) The consumption of the item
5) Disposal of the items - how easy is it to breakdown, are there any chemicals emitted or toxins leaked
Current solutions to the pollution problem from these activities include the use of energy and water ratings, and monitoring CO2 emissions by factories and suppliers. However, these ratings do not consider the passive consumption of the item, which is how much chemicals and pollution was used to produce the item and transport it to the retail outlet where the item was purchased. Primary production, manufacturing, transport etc. all have a degree of environmental impact. This information would also be important for the consumer to make their decision, it is currently unavailable. Most of the existing rating systems target consumption, ignoring the rest of the supply chain.
The aim of this system is to give consumers information about the environmental impact of the products they buy. This will change consumer behaviour resulting in market forces making it economically essential for producers, distributors, and others in the supply chain to minimise the effect of their activities on the environment. Environmental impact information will be gathered and summarised using the eGreen rating system. The eGreen rating system will integrate products’ environmental impact information from all stages in the product life cycle. Aside from this, the eGreen rating system will allow people to keep track of their individual environmental impact based on the eGreen ratings of the products they have already purchased.
Through the use of Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) tags, consumer goods will be tracked throughout the supply chain. Information regarding the production and distribution of items will be used to calculate an item’s “eGreen Rating”. This information is made available to consumers via a website and in-store scanners. It will provide a straightforward way of making people aware of the full extent of the environmental impact of the products they plan to purchase.
The system is designed to be used by different stakeholders all using the internet to access the eGreen web server to access the website and make use of web services. Based on the client interaction with the web server, information is either added or retrieved from the database. The stakeholders in the manufacturing and distribution roles would be to maintain a list of products and their associated information (disposal, waste, chemicals). The web server uses the Virtual Earth website to display custom maps and store information to consumers."
The final Aussie contenders sent to France will be chosen at Remix in Melbourne on 22nd May.
