About the Project

Inspiration

The inspiration for WasteWise came from the urgent need to address waste management and sustainability in our communities. As global waste continues to rise, we wanted to create a platform where consumers and small businesses can connect over eco-friendly, recycled, and upcycled items. Our goal was to encourage responsible consumption by making sustainable products accessible to everyone.

What We Learned

Throughout this project, we gained valuable insights into sustainable practices, eco-friendly materials, and the circular economy. We learned how challenging it can be to verify the sustainability of certain products, and we also became more knowledgeable about the certification standards used in the industry. Additionally, working on the app taught us new skills in full-stack development, user-centered design, and environmental impact metrics.

How We Built It

Frontend: We used React Native for mobile development, ensuring the app is accessible on both iOS and Android. This choice also allowed for a smoother user experience with native-like performance.
Backend: The backend was developed using Node.js with Express for API management, while MongoDB served as our database to handle data storage for products, users, and transactions.
Payment Integration: To support our eco-friendly mission, we integrated Stripe Climate for payment processing, allowing a portion of each sale to be directed toward environmental causes.
Sustainability Metrics: We added an impact tracker that calculates the estimated environmental savings for each purchase, such as reduced emissions and waste diversion.