Inspiration
As a team, we had a collective interest in sustainability and knew that if we could focus on online consumerism, we would have much greater potential to influence sustainable purchases. We also were inspired by Honey -- we wanted to create something that is easily accessible across many websites, with readily available information for people to compare.
Lots of people we know don’t take the time to look for sustainable items. People typically say if they had a choice between sustainable and non-sustainable products around the same price point, they would choose the sustainable option. But, consumers often don't make the deliberate effort themselves. We’re making it easier for people to buy sustainably -- placing the products right in front of consumers.
What it does
greenbeans is a Chrome extension that pops up when users are shopping for items online, offering similar alternative products that are more eco-friendly. The extension also displays a message if the product meets our sustainability criteria.
How we built it
Designs in Figma, Bubble for backend, React for frontend.
Challenges we ran into
Three beginner hackers! First time at a hackathon for three of us, for two of those three it was our first time formally coding in a product experience. Ideation was also challenging to decide which broad issue to focus on (nutrition, mental health, environment, education, etc.) and in determining specifics of project (how to implement, what audience/products we wanted to focus on, etc.)
Accomplishments that we're proud of
Navigating Bubble for the first time, multiple members coding in a product setting for the first time... Pretty much creating a solid MVP with a team of beginners!
What we learned
In order to ensure that a project is feasible, at times it’s necessary to scale back features and implementation to consider constraints. Especially when working on a team with 3 first time hackathon-goers, we had to ensure we were working in spaces where we could balance learning with making progress on the project.
What's next for greenbeans
Lots to add on in the future: Systems to reward sustainable product purchases. Storing data over time and tracking sustainable purchases. Incorporating a community aspect, where small businesses can link their products or websites to certain searches. Including information on best prices for the various sustainable alternatives, or indicators that a product is being sold by a small business. More tailored or specific product recommendations that recognize style, scent, or other niche qualities.
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