[IMPACT] Please describe your proposed solution.
The biggest challenge for those who build with earth is determining whether the available type of earth is suitable for use as a building material. Unlike other construction materials such as steel or cement, earth cannot be standardized. Therefore, it relies entirely on the knowledge and experience of the builder or manufacturer of earth-based materials to differentiate between the right and wrong types of earth.
What often happens is that people venture into this industry assuming that all earth is the same, or that they only need to analyze the clay, sand, and silt content of the earth. When they get it wrong, the building can be compromised. For example, bricks may dissolve or structural cracks may occur, which not only damages the building but also undermines trust in earthen architectural techniques among communities.
To address this problem, a group of Brazilian manufacturers of modular compressed earth bricks came together in 2020 to establish the Ecoterm Institute. Their aim is to raise awareness and share knowledge about good practices in sustainable construction using earth and/or waste as construction materials. The institute seeks to create a high-quality environment and improve the overall quality of the sector by certifying manufacturers and builders in the sustainable construction field. They promote the adoption of good practices and ensure the quality of the products and services offered.
In November 2021, we launched the Earth Natives NFT project, an educational initiative by the Institute Ecoterm Modular. This collection of 3,333 minerals serves as an open-source, peer-reviewed mineral library residing on the Cardano blockchain. Each mineral includes essential details: (1) name, (2) image, (3) Mohs scale (hardness), and (4) scientific formula.
With the proceeds from the NFT sale, we were able to relocate a family from their extremely poor and unsafe living conditions. We demolished their old house and constructed a new one using compressed earth interlocking bricks. We documented the entire process and shared it with the community to showcase the positive impact. As part of our promotion efforts, we prominently featured the Cardano logo on uniforms, banners, and social media platforms.
Our next milestone was the creation of IE (Institute Ecoterm) tokens. We minted 33,000,000 tokens on the Cardano blockchain to serve as governance tokens. The purpose is to empower actively engaged members. As part of our tokenomics strategy, we distribute tokens to those who participate in general meetings and cast their votes. Each token represents one vote, and the more an associate engages with our organization, the more tokens they receive, enhancing their influence within the Institute. It's important to note that creating a wallet on the Cardano blockchain is mandatory to apply for membership. You can access the constitution document in English through the following link: www.ecoterm.org/constitution
We take pride in being the first Brazilian organization to incorporate tokens into our constitution, setting a precedent for the industry and showcasing our commitment to innovation and environmental sustainability.
Our current focus is on developing a website with front-end and back-end functionalities that will serve as the members portal (accessible only via NFT).
IE Tokens
Policy ID: 98dc34951aed76e97babf4f3f982db83ade2fd23c3950fef9ad125b4
Earth Natives NFTs
Policy ID: eebf7f0deadaf8bbf24f032012f46311a0c77da84ad9ceb624e52d48
Our members portal will be a secure online platform in one section of our website that provides exclusive access and resources to registered members of our organisation. It will be our central hub where members can log in to access personalised content, communicate with other members, participate in discussions, access member-only resources or benefits, update their profile information, and engage in various activities related to the organisation. The members portal aims to enhance member experience, foster community engagement, and provide a convenient and dedicated space for members to connect and interact with each other and the organisation.
The website will include the following features:
• Library: Section with articles, studies, guides, and other publications related to sustainable construction.
• Resources and Publications: Links to external resources, including relevant scientific and technological research, downloadable educational and informational materials.
• Meeting room with video call access.
• Voting system based on the token policy ID: 98dc34951aed76e97babf4f3f982db83ade2fd23c3950fef9ad125b4.
With the funds from Project Catalyst, we will be able to implement this portal and cover the costs associated with lawyers and government fees. Once this infrastructure is in place, we can commence offering the certification process internationally, further expanding the Cardano ecosystem and attracting a broader audience.
[IMPACT] How does your proposed solution address the challenge and what benefits will this bring to the Cardano ecosystem?
Our proposed solution directly addresses the challenge of establishing quality standards in sustainable construction. By leveraging the Cardano blockchain, we can provide a transparent and immutable certification process, ensuring trust and credibility in the industry. This will attract more sustainable construction projects to the Cardano ecosystem, fostering environmental sustainability and promoting the use of blockchain technology.
[IMPACT] How do you intend to measure the success of your project?
- By the number of sustainable construction projects certified on the Cardano blockchain.
- Adoption rate of our certification system by industry stakeholders.
- Feedback and satisfaction levels from certified projects and industry professionals.
- Monitoring the number of visits to the website.
- The increase of unique wallets holding the Institutes policy ID assets.
[IMPACT] Please describe your plans to share the outputs and results of your project?
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Provide evidence of expenses paid for legal compliance and enabling the portal to function online in the form of receipts
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Showcase certified projects on our website and provide educational resources on sustainable construction.
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Publishing reports and case studies highlighting the benefits and success stories of certified projects.
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Collaborating with industry associations and organizations to disseminate information and promote the adoption of our certification system.
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Engaging in conferences, workshops, and webinars to present our findings and share best practices.
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Utilizing social media platforms and online communities to raise awareness and engage with stakeholders.
[CAPABILITY/ FEASIBILITY] What is your capability to deliver your project with high levels of trust and accountability?
We have a highly capable team with expertise in sustainable construction and project management. We will rely on partnerships with members of the Cardano community in regards to blockchain technology. Our team members have a proven track record of successful project delivery, and we are committed to upholding the highest levels of trust and accountability throughout the implementation of our certification system.
In the link below, you can access Thiago Martoni’s LinkedIn profile. Thiago is the President of Institute Ecoterm and will be the Project Manager of the implementation of this Project Catalyst proposal.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/thiago-martoni-a8608720/
[CAPABILITY/ FEASIBILITY] What are the main goals for the project and how will you validate if your approach is feasible?
Goal One:
Establishing a website with a section for users to connect their wallets in order to access the associate portal exclusively.
Feasibility:
To archive this, we are planning to build the website using WordPress with CardanoPress plugins.
Goal Two:
Issue blockchain-based worldwide digital certification for sustainable construction using earth. And promoting global recognition of eco-friendly construction practices, setting quality standards and ensuring credibility in the industry.
Feasibility:
We will be using NMKR to provide minting services which will be connected to the website.
[CAPABILITY/ FEASIBILITY] Please provide a detailed breakdown of your project’s milestones and each of the main tasks or activities to reach the milestone plus the expected timeline for the delivery.
The detailed breakdown and expected timeline are divided in 2 trimesters:
COMPLIANCE AND PLANNING
1st Trimester: July, August and September 2023
• Legal process and complete government paperwork to obtain necessary approvals in Brazil (Status: Already in finalizing process.)
• Plan in detail the structure and layout of the website and members portal
IMPLEMENTATION AND IMPROVEMENTS
2nd Trimester: October, November and December 2023
• Website development and membership platform.
• Launch the member portal and follow up user experiences to allow some adjustments and improvements while ensuring its functionality.
[CAPABILITY/ FEASIBILITY] Please describe the deliverables, outputs and intended outcomes of each milestone.
Milestone 1: Complete government paperwork and obtain necessary approvals.
Deliverable: Successful completion of all required government paperwork.
Output: Approved government documentation.
Intended Outcome: Legally recognized and compliant organization.
Milestone 2: Begin development of the membership platform and website.
Deliverable: Commencement of development activities for the membership platform and website.
Output: Initial design and functionality of the platform.
Intended Outcome: Creation of a secure and user-friendly membership platform.
Milestone 3: Launch the member portal and ensure its functionality.
Deliverable: Fully functional member portal on the website.
Output: Operational member portal.
Intended Outcome: Seamless access for members, fostering engagement and participation.
[RESOURCES & VALUE FOR MONEY] Please provide a detailed budget breakdown of the proposed work and resources.
- Lawyer fees: BRL$9,500.00 or ₳15,500
- Government paperwork and compliance: BRL$1,449.50 or ₳2,500
- Website and UX development and member portal: AUD$22,500.00 or ₳45,000
Total Budget: ₳63,000 (ADA)
*Note: Budget estimated in ADA based on price on 15 of July 2023
[RESOURCES & VALUE FOR MONEY] Who is in the project team and what are their roles?
Thiago Martoni
President at Institute Ecoterm
Project Manager: Responsible for overall project coordination and management
Shirla Amaral
Treasurer of Institute Ecoterm
Financial Officer: Manages project budget and financial accountability
Rosangela Franchi
Attorney at FR7
Legal Consultant: Skilled lawyer overseeing legal proceedings
Peter Bui
Co-founder PB Web Development
Web Developer: Responsible for website development and member portal implementation
Quasar
HardFork Cafe
Advisor: Project Catalyst orientator
[RESOURCES & VALUE FOR MONEY] How does the cost of the project represent value for money for the Cardano ecosystem?
The cost of the project represents value for money for the Cardano ecosystem as it enables the establishment of a transparent and reliable certification system for sustainable construction using earth, which aligns with Cardano's vision of promoting sustainability and blockchain adoption. The funds will be utilized efficiently to cover essential expenses and ensure the successful implementation of a membership platform that leverages blockchain technology, providing long-term benefits to the Cardano community.
This photo was taken when we handed over the keys to an Ecological Earth Home which was built and donated by Earth Natives using Cardano Blockchain. We have been promoting Cardano tirelessly across all of the Institute’s social medias, which includes LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter. We have some highly successful posts, for example this one below, that even Charles Hoskinson quote retweeted. This particular post has 108,000 views and 1,560 likes. You can check the video out here:
https://twitter.com/IOHK_Charles/status/1528376519352954882?s=20
Here are some extra links about our project. Please consider these links as proof of our engagement with the Cardano community:
Collaboration with Clay Nation
https://twitter.com/claymates/status/1606633065715011585?s=20
Sustainable Ada:
https://sustainableada.com/news/part-1-institute-ecoterm-modular-and-earth-natives/
CNFT World
<https://cnftworld.io/earth-natives-real-life-utility/>
Cardano Journal
<https://medium.com/cardano-journal/cardano-nft-column-007-earth-natives-2f30265da7b9>
Climate Neutral Cardana - CNC Ala
https://climateneutralcardano.org/cnc-ala-ispo/
Cardano Army by Traveler Jo
https://www.cardanoarmy.io/post/anything-is-possible-here
Ada Pulse
https://adapulse.io/earth-natives-building-cardano-building-the-future/
