Coastal Clear

There is no doubt that climate change is having a significant impact on our planet. After discussing with the group, we recognised the common passion we share for environmental conservation and climate change action, therefore inspiring our project ‘Coastal Clear’. Our innovation will target multiple SDG’s including number 9, 12, 13, 14 therefore covering a large area of sustainability. The ‘SeaBin’ was invented in 2015 as a sustainable way to clear Australian waters, our innovation of this project will see a revolutionised model. Coastal Clear differs from the ‘SeaBin’ as it will utilize modern technology such as AI, microplastic detectors, and an interactive downloadable app to improve and modernise this invention. 

Coastal clear will recycle all the waste it collects by creating more devices to collect more waste, which will be a continuing cycle. With the help of contemporary technology, AI detection sensors will be embedded in the device to ensure no sealife is mistaken for pollution. It will also help to detect microplastics which cannot be seen by the naked eye but still have a detrimental impact on our environment. Additionally, tracking devices will be embedded in the device so that people can remotely track and control their movements to more polluted areas and to avoid weather systems. Our app will also use these trackers to integrate the gamification element of our project to entice more audiences to engage with our environmental devices. Coastal Clear devices will focus on cleaning up the coastal areas of developing nations which don’t have resources to do so.   

We aim to reach environmentalists like ourselves through marketing campaigns to grow our sustainability project. Stakeholders will include environmentalists, global governments, and people who want to make a change but don’t know how. Our app is a great easy way to contribute to fighting against climate change by immersing yourself in the Coastal Clear experience through tracking devices and helping clean up the planet. For a small donation, individuals will be able to compete with each other in competition-like features such as whoever can collect the most waste in their bin. Additionally, global government funding will allow our project to come to life by authorizing its use in these developing nations by being funded by their governments. 

Our innovation will primarily benefit coastal communities in developing nations, assisting them to do their part by using our devices to clear waste. These communities are heavily dependent on tourism, with pollution deterring people from visiting these regions. Clearing the waste will not only benefit the health of the ocean but will become more inviting for tourists.    

Some risks we could face are strong weather events possibly wiping out a percentage of our devices in a concentrated area. Additionally, we don’t have a strong funding plan apart from government funding as well as donations and in-app purchases which could be a problem down the track when planning for long-term upgrades.  

‘The Art of Innovation’ highlights many key features about how to make a successful innovation and points out key examples of companies who have successfully used these features. To make our project as successful as possible we have employed some of these factors. Our mantra ‘Action made accessible’ emphasises our mission in a simple three words to easily catch the attention of possible stakeholders. Additionally, we have made use of the DICEE effect by having a multitude of new and improved features on our devices, adding a level of complexity without removing its sophistication. 

Below is a labelled diagram of what our devices will look like and it’s functions.    

Reference list

Guy Kawasaki 2014, The art of innovation | Guy Kawasaki | TEDxBerkeley, YouTube.

Nazeer, M, Tabassum, U & Alam, S 2016, ‘Environmental Pollution and Sustainable Development in Developing Countries’, The Pakistan Development Review, vol. 55, Pakistan Institute of Development Economics, Islamabad, no. 4, pp. 589–604.Puschmann, T & Alt, R 2016, ‘Sharing Economy’, Business & Information Systems Engineering, vol. 58, no. 1, pp. 93–99.