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Innovation Story Search

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Empowering Maasai Women in Arid Lands

One innovation is planting of aloe plants in an arid land & using the plants to produce organic product lines e.g Shampoos, lotions, hair conditioners, shower gel and liquid hand wash. In Kenya, it creates employment for the Maasai women, empowers them economically and the women get trained in sustainable and regenerative farming practices. Also it has positive environmental impact by reversing the degraded arid land with plantation of gum, resin trees and aloe plant.

No Internet, No Problem

SCSI created the MKII Testing Tablet to attract more customers for SCSI testing, increase the total number of candidates tested, and increase the overall productivity in the language industry. It focuses mainly on helping solve three of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by providing quality education to those with insufficient resources using a high-tech product.

Connect with Nature

Ted Turners Reserves is a hospitality company that provides guests with authentic and meaningful experiences of their unique wildlife while actively making conservation efforts through their different projects and innovations. They have been able to completely move away from fossil fuels, and run their entire ranch on renewable energy with their new photovoltaic system. This is helping to solve goal 12 of the UN SDGs, ensuring sustainable consumption and production patterns by lessening the threat of fossil fuel.

Recycling with Purpose & Sustainable Currency / Reciclaje con propósito y una moneda sostenible

According to information from the UN, if we do not change consumption patterns and management practices of our plastic waste by 2050 there will be more than 12,000 million tons of plastic garbage in landfills, rivers, lakes, and oceans around the world. In Colombia more than one million tons of plastics are produced each year, of which only 7 percent is recycled, while the remaining 93 percent ends up in landfills or is thrown in the mountains, valleys, and rivers.

Every year 300 million tons reach the oceans, contaminate environment, and generate a negative impact on the ecosystem, leaving public health effects in the process. These materials can take at least 400 years to decompose and even be a serious climate problem. According to the United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP26) which states that plastics also represent a climate problem since in 2015 it was estimated that plastic materials are related to the production of 1.7 gigatons of CO2 and is expected to increase. However, the production of plastic continues multiplying more than 22 times, representing investments of up to USD$180,000 million in plastic production factories. In Colombia, of the total material consumed, 770,000 tons are single-use plastics.

Te Sirve 5R through its recycling machines, transforms the procedure in which people can desire and decide to recycle their plastic waste. They generate awareness through commercial alliances, sustainable developments, and green marketing a concept of love and care for the environment. “Today we are delivering happiness, a few years ago it was a concept of environmental awareness, today it is an environmentally loving concept, love and care for the planet”. They achieve this through innovation in the software of their collection machines and the incentives that people receive when they recycle, promoting separation at the source and the use of this waste in the generation of solutions for a second use. As John Celis, founder of Te Sirve 5R, mentions, “We can benefit many people, we can reach many places, turn recycling into a currency and positively impact the community. In May they reached a milestone of 3 million containers, 3 million containers that are not going to a sanitary landfill, 3 million containers that are not in rivers or oceans, and there are 3 million containers that today are part of the circular economy”.

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Según información de la ONU, si no cambiamos las pautas de consumo y prácticas de gestión de nuestros desechos plásticos, para el 2050 habrán más de 12.000 millones de toneladas de basura plástica en vertederos, rellenos sanitarios contaminando ríos, lagos y océanos alrededor del mundo. En Colombia se producen más de un millón de toneladas de plásticos al año, del que solo se recicla un 7 por ciento mientras el 93 por ciento restante termina acumulado en los rellenos sanitarios o se arroja a las montañas, los valles, y los ríos.

Cada año, 300 millones de toneladas llegan a los océanos, contaminan los espacios y generan un impacto negativo en el ecosistema, dejando a su paso afectaciones en la salud pública. Estos materiales pueden tardar al menos 400 años en descomponerse e incluso, según la Conferencia de las Naciones Unidas sobre el cambio climático (COP26) afirma que los plásticos también representan un problema climático puesto que en 2015 se estimó que los materiales plásticos se relacionan con la producción de 1,7 gigatoneladas de CO2 y se espera que aumente. Sin embargo, la producción del plástico se sigue multiplicando a más de 22 veces representando inversiones de hasta USD$180.000 millones en fábricas de producción de plástico. En Colombia, del total de material que se consume, 770.000 toneladas son plásticos de un uso corto.

Te Sirve 5R a través de sus máquinas recicladoras transforma la manera en la que las personas quieren y deciden reciclar sus residuos plásticos. Generan conciencia a través de alianzas comerciales, desarrollos sostenibles y de mercadeo verde un concepto de amor y cuidado por el medio ambiente “Hoy en día estamos entregando felicidad, lo hace unos años era un concepto de conciencia ambiental hoy en día es un concepto ambientalmente amoroso, amor por el planeta y cuidado por el planeta”. Esto lo consiguen a través de la innovación en el software de sus máquinas de recolección y los incentivos que la persona puede recibir al reciclar, promoviendo la separación en la fuente y el aprovechamiento de estos residuos en la generación de soluciones para un segundo uso. Como menciona John Celis fundador de Te Sirve 5R “Podemos beneficiar a muchas personas, podemos llegar a muchos lugares, convertir el reciclaje en una moneda e impactar positivamente a la comunidad. En mayo se completan 3 millones de envases, 3 millones de envases que no están yendo a un relleno sanitario, 3 millones de envases que no están en ríos ni océanos y son 3 millones de envases que hoy en día están haciendo parte de la economía circular”.

Artificial Intelligence for the Environment / Intelligencia Artificial Para El Medio Ambiente

One of the global challenges of the United Nations is “Big data for sustainable development”. According to this entity, the volume of data in the world is growing rapidly, since: "According to some estimates, 90% of the data in the world has been created in the last two years (2020 - 2022) and at a growth of 40% per year. Despite this, the United Nations ensures that there is no high-quality data, because many countries do not have updated information on their population and do not cover all the existing problems in their regions, a situation that is evident in poor countries. This is exemplified in the “Global Water Challenge”, where it is indicated that: "Data on water quality is not routinely collected in most countries. This means that more than 3 billion people are at risk because the health of their freshwater ecosystems is unknown.” (UN-Water 2021).

In Colombia particularly, one of the great challenges we face is to have quality water and adequate infrastructure in terms of aqueduct and sewerage for all populations in an equitable manner. According to the Ministry of Environment, Colombia has average annual rainfall of 1,800 milliliters; it also has about 720,000 hydrographic basins and about 10 rivers with permanent flows. With these figures we would be far from thinking that we are going through a water shortage crisis. However, more than 50% of the water resource cannot be used due to quality problems. It is estimated that agricultural and industrial activities and domestic water generate 9,000 tons of organic matter, which contaminate aquifers.

According to the 2018 National Water Study: “The coverage of the aqueduct service is 92.3%, and the sewerage service is 88.2%. This leaves more than 3.6 million people without access to the former and 5.6 million without access to the latter. In rural areas, coverage worsens since neither aqueduct nor sewage reach 75%”. Considering the above, it is necessary to implement strategies in favor of the environment and the quality of life of the populations, which allow information to be obtained, so that regional, national and international entities can make decisions in the face of current environmental situation.

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Uno de los desafíos globales de las Naciones Unidas es “Macrodatos para el desarrollo sostenible”. De acuerdo con esta entidad, el volumen de datos en el mundo crece aceleradamente, puesto que: “Según algunas estimaciones, el 90% de los datos en el mundo se ha creado en los últimos dos años (2020 - 2022) y se predice un crecimiento de un 40% anual”. A pesar de esto, Naciones Unidas asegura que no hay datos de alta calidad, debido a que muchos países no cuentan con información actualizada sobre su población y no cubren todas las problemáticas existentes en sus regiones, situación que se evidencia en los países pobres; esto se ejemplifica, en el “Desafío global Agua”, en donde se indica que:” Los datos sobre la calidad del agua no se recopilan de manera rutinaria en la mayoría de los países. Esto significa que más de 3 mil millones de personas están en riesgo porque se desconoce la salud de sus ecosistemas de agua dulce”. (ONU-Agua 2021).

En Colombia particularmente, uno de los grandes retos que enfrentamos, es contar con agua de calidad y con la infraestructura adecuada en cuanto a acueducto y alcantarillado para todas las poblaciones de manera equitativa. Según el Ministerio de Medio Ambiente, Colombia tiene precipitaciones anuales promedio de 1.800 mililitros, además cuenta con cerca de 720 mil cuencas hidrográficas y alrededor de 10 ríos con caudales permanentes, con estas cifras estaríamos lejos de pensar que estemos atravesando por una crisis de escasez de agua, sin embargo, más del 50% del recurso hídrico no se puede utilizar por problemas de calidad. Se calcula que las actividades agrícolas e industriales y las aguas domésticas generan 9.000 toneladas de materia orgánica, que contaminan los acuíferos.

Según el Estudio Nacional del Agua 2018: “La cobertura del servicio de acueducto es de 92,3 %, y la de alcantarillado es de 88,2 %. Esto deja a más de 3,6 millones de personas sin acceso al primero y 5,6 millones sin acceso al segundo. En las zonas rurales la cobertura empeora, pues ni acueducto ni alcantarillado alcanzan el 75%”. Teniendo en cuenta lo anterior, es necesario, implementar estrategias en pro del medio ambiente y la calidad de vida de las poblaciones, que permitan obtener información, con el fin de que los entes regionales, nacionales e internacionales puedan tomar decisiones frente a la actual situación ambiental.

Finance a farmer / Financia un agricultor

The incidence of rural poverty would have been 46.8% in 2020 according to Fedesarrollo. According to figures from the statistical entity, in 2020 the monetary poverty line in rural areas was $199,828, while in 2019 it was $210,969, which meant a reduction of 5.3% in the middle of the year of the pandemic. (Sierra, 2022). Since 2018 Agrapp has generated from 1 to 4 direct jobs in Colombia in regions such as; Cundinamarca, Valle del Cauca, Antioquia, Santander and surrounding areas.

"In 85% of the cases in which farmers request financing from Banks, Cooperatives and Financial Entities, they are denied" comments David Duarte CEO of Agrapp. This situation generates that in some cases they must use their properties as collateral for credit, Agrapp was born in order to cover and seek solutions for Colombian agriculture and contribute to agricultural productivity, income of small-scale food producers, resources and production inputs, knowledge and access to financial services as the first web financing platform for agriculture in Colombia.

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La incidencia de la pobreza rural habría sido de 46,8% en 2020 según Fedesarrollo. Según las cifras de la entidad de estadística, en 2020 la línea de pobreza monetaria en las zonas rurales fue de $199.828, mientras que en 2019 esta fue de $210.969, lo que significó una reducción de 5,3% en pleno año de la pandemia. (Sierra, 2022). Desde 2018 Agrapp genera de 1 a 4 empleos directos en Colombia en regiones como; Cundinamarca, Valle del Cauca, Antioquia, Santander y aledaños.

“En el 85% de los casos en que los agricultores hacen solicitud de financiación a Bancos, Cooperativas y Entidades Financieras son negados” comenta David Duarte CEO de Agrapp. Esta situación genera que en algunos casos deban utilizar como garantía sus propiedades, allí nace Agrapp en pro de cubrir y buscar soluciones para el agro colombiano y aportar a la productividad agrícola, ingresos de los productores de alimentos en pequeña escala, recursos e insumos de producción, conocimiento y acceso a los servicios financieros como primera plataforma de financiamiento web de agro en Colombia.

Where we all recycle together / Donde todos reciclamos juntos

By the year 2021, 12 million tons of waste were produced in Colombia and only 20% of these were recycled. The low level of recycling in the country generates different problems in the short and long term, currently there is a crisis in landfills due to lack of space, there is no longer where to store all the amount of waste that is produced daily; 32,000 tons approximately.

This makes Colombia a country with an important need to implement recycling systems that generate and promote the good use of usable resources.

Yo Reciclo optimizes the modern recycling processes in the city of Bogotá, Colombia, by implementing a system which involves de main participants of the process: mass producing companies, generating sectors, recyclers, gathering centers, and transformation enterprises managing all the residue in an arrendable way and supporting the development of a healthy civic culture.

They create an economical game changer using the strengths of the sustainable circular economy spending less resources and generating a benefit from residues, supporting recyclers, offering them a better lifestyle, making them more productive and improving their labor and economic conditions.

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Para el año 2021 en Colombia se produjeron 12 millones de toneladas de residuos y de estas solo se recicló el 20%. El bajo nivel de reciclaje en el país genera a corto y largo plazo diferentes problemáticas, actualmente se presenta crisis en los rellenos sanitarios por falta de espacio, ya no hay donde almacenar toda la cantidad de residuos que se producen a diario; 32.000 toneladas aproximadamente.

Esto hace de Colombia un país con una importante necesidad de implementar sistemas de reciclaje que generen y propendan el buen uso de los recursos aprovechables.

Yo Reciclo optimiza los procesos actuales de reciclaje en la ciudad de Bogotá (Colombia), a través de la implementación de un sistema que involucra los principales actores del proceso, tales como; empresas productoras, sectores generadores, recicladores, centros de acopio y empresas transformadoras gestionando los residuos de manera rentable y aportando en el desarrollo de la cultura ciudadana.

Generan un cambio económico a través del fortalecimiento de la economía circular en el aprovechamiento de residuos y en el mejoramiento de la calidad de vida especialmente de los recolectores haciéndolos más productivos y favoreciendo sus condiciones laborales y económicas

Drinking water available to everyone! / ¡Agua potable al alcance de todos!

According to studies carried out by the United Nations around the world, 3 out of 10 people don’t have access to potable water services and every day, around 1,000 children die due to diarrheal diseases associated with lack of hygiene. Since 2018 PureWater has sought to solve these problems in the country, providing the opportunity to improve the quality of life of people who use this products.

In Colombia, according to a study carried out by Findeter (2021), there has been an inadequate provision of drinking water and basic sanitation in rural areas, due to the fact that it is headed by the mayor's office of each municipality. “Of the total census of the Colombian population, 24% are located in rural areas, mostly in the Andean (46%), Caribbean (23%), and Pacific (22%) regions. In turn, 23% of the rural population is concentrated in nucleated areas and 77% in dispersed areas, mainly category 6. The lowest rural water and sewage coverage is found in the Caribbean and Pacific zones, as well as in the municipalities category 4, 5 and 6. Likewise, the Water Quality Risk Index in urban areas is 14% and in rural areas it is 50%, classified as high risk.

"It is said that in Guajira children die of malnutrition, but this is not the case, they die of a vicious circle between the lack of adequate food combined with poor quality water, this generates an acute diarrheal disease, which leads to malnutrition and with it death”- Wilmar Echeverry General Manager and creator of PureWater.

To date, there are 102 municipalities in Colombia that have registered some degree of affectation in the provision of water supply suitable for human consumption.

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Según estudios realizados por las naciones unidas en el mundo 3 de cada 10 personas no cuentan con acceso a servicios de agua potable y que cada día, alrededor de 1000 niños mueren debido a enfermedades diarreicas asociadas a la falta de higiene. Desde el 2018 PureWater busca dar solución a estas problemáticas en el país, brindando la oportunidad de mejorar la calidad de vida de las personas que hagan uso de sus productos.

En Colombia, según un estudio realizado por Findeter (2021) se ha presentado una inadecuada provisión de agua potable y saneamiento básico en las zonas rurales, debido que está en cabeza de la alcaldía de cada municipio. “Del total del censo de la población colombiana, el 24% se ubican en la zona rural, en su mayoría en las regiones andina (46%), Caribe (23%), y Pacífica (22%). A su vez, el 23% de la población rural se concentra en áreas nucleadas y el 77% en áreas dispersas, principalmente de categoría 6. Las menores coberturas rurales de acueducto y alcantarillado se encuentran en las zonas caribe y pacífica, así como en los municipios categoría 4, 5 y 6. De igual forma, el Índice de Riesgo de Calidad del Agua en las zonas urbanas es del 14% y en las zonas rurales es del 50%, clasificado en nivel de riesgo alto. En aquellas regiones donde el suministro de APSB es deficiente, el agua es reconocida como vehículo de dispersión de enfermedades que afecta principalmente a menores de 5 años.

“Se dice que en la Guajira los niños mueren de desnutrición, pero no es así, se mueren de un círculo vicioso entre la falta de alimentos adecuados combinado con mala calidad de agua, esto les genera una enfermedad diarreica aguda, lo que conlleva a la desnutrición y consigo la muerte”- Wilmar Echeverry Gerente general y creador de PureWater.

A la fecha en Colombia se tiene 102 municipios que han registrado algún grado de afectación en la prestación del suministro de agua apta para el consumo humano.

Liquid I.V.: Hydrating, Educating, & Inspiring the Global Community

Liquid I.V. is a health-science and wellness company “created to fuel life’s adventures,” according to the company website. The company’s product line boasts “great-tasting, non-GMO electrolyte drink mixes utilizing Cellular Transport Technology (CTT)® to enhance rapid absorption of water and other key ingredients into the bloodstream,” all of which aid consumers’ physical performance and overall health. Liquid I.V. products follow the World Health Organization’s guidelines for Oral Rehydration Solution, which is the most requested product during humanitarian crises and disaster recovery. Founded in 2012 by Brandin Cohen, the company has been a purpose-led business since its inception. Sustainability is at the core of Liquid I.V.’s three pillars: Product, People, and Planet. In 2015, Liquid I.V. marked its first giveback initiative with a small-but-mighty donation of 500 product servings to a homeless shelter in downtown Los Angeles. Since then, the company has donated more than 25 million servings globally. They expect to donate another 2.4 million servings in 2022 alone.

Reengineering of Milk Products / Reingenieria de Productos Lacteos

In Colombia, in the department of Boyacá, extreme poverty went from 7.3% (2019) to 14.9% (2020), which means that at least 97,715 people from Boyacá fell into extreme poverty, and today there are 191,304 people from Boyacá living in extreme poverty (Pineda, 2021).

Multidimensional poverty takes into account access to the most basic needs of families such as public services, housing, health and education. With this measurement, the government started from 30.4% of the population in poverty, in total it will move forward out of poverty to 5.1 million Colombians measured by the MPI.

The negative impact of unemployment is reflected in inequality, where it affects women and youth the most. Comparing the last quarter without pandemic, i.e. December (2019) to February (2020) and the last evaluated quarter of 2020 September - November, due to the effects of COVID-19, 4,925 more people have become unemployed, 6,658 jobs have been lost and 4,604 of inhabitants were added to the inactive population (Pineda, Desafíos Boyacá 2021 lucha contra la pobreza y la desigualdad, 2021).

The objective is to close the gap of women in managerial or managerial positions in the Colombian State. This year 44.5% of the highest decision-making positions in the Government are in the hands of women. This shows a great advance since in 2009 these positions were occupied by 37.6% of women. By 2030 this figure is expected to reach up to 50%. Colombia went from position 53 to position 39 in the World Economic Forum's report on what we call the gender gap.

According to (Gobernanza de Boyacá, 2020) the department of Boyacá implemented the Ten-Year Public Health Plan through the PASE methodology to health equity, in which institutional and community actors participated under a determinants approach, and as a result the 2015-2023 territorial plan for the Department of Boyacá was adopted. This plan is a political setting as a department for the next ten years, through which it is expected to intervene in the determinants that affect the health of Boyacá's population.

Statistics in Colombia made by Fedegan, show that there are 670,000 milk farmers and according to the National Accreditation Council CNA, in 2014 1,104 Colombian municipalities reported milk production. It is a sector that is monopolized by the large pasteurizers who receive the highest profits.

A large part of the country's production is informal, which is an unfortunate situation for small farmers. There is an imbalance regarding the regulation of prices by the large milk products industries, who collect the liquid, offer and regulate the prices at their convenience, affecting the production of the peasants and taking advantage of their needs.

The sector is also affected by imports of milk products, increases in agricultural inputs, difficulties in distribution, and there are also flaws in regulations that do not protect local production, making clear that we have a weak institutional framework. The cattle industry is very important in the country´s tradition, however, 63% of households dedicated to milk production are considered poor (Ciro, 2020).

Carlos Romero, leader of the project, expresses another problem: "Women in the countryside have been the greatest victims of masculine sexism, as well as of the armed conflict, both due to land eviction, as well as symbolic, political or sexual violence that has caused them to lack opportunities in the realization of a life Project”.

Naturleche intends to eradicate this problem by contributing to the following sustainable development objectives: they will contribute to reducing inequalities in the countryside, putting an end to poverty, gender equality, generating decent work, economic growth, responsible production and consumption.

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En Colombia, en el departamento de Boyacá, la pobreza extrema pasó de 7,3% (2019) a 14,9% (2020), lo que significa que al menos 97.715 boyacenses cayeron en la pobreza extrema, y ​​hoy hay 191.304 boyacenses en situación de pobreza extrema. pobreza (Pineda, 2021).

La pobreza multidimensional tiene en cuenta el acceso a las necesidades más básicas de las familias como los servicios públicos, la vivienda, la salud o la educación. Con esta medición el gobierno partió de un 30,4% de la población en pobreza, en total se avanzará de la pobreza a 5,1 millones de colombianos medidos por el IPM.

El impacto negativo del desempleo se refleja en la desigualdad, donde afecta más a mujeres y jóvenes. Comparando el último trimestre sin pandemia, es decir, diciembre (2019) a febrero (2020) y el último trimestre evaluado de 2020 septiembre - noviembre, por los efectos del COVID-19, 4.925 personas más se han quedado sin empleo, se han perdido 6.658 empleos y A la población inactiva se sumaron 4.604 de habitantes (Pineda, Desafíos Boyacá 2021 lucha contra la pobreza y la desigualdad, 2021).

El objetivo es cerrar la brecha de mujeres en cargos directivos o gerenciales en el Estado Colombiano; este año el 44,5% de los máximos cargos de decisión del Gobierno están en manos de mujeres. Esto muestra un gran avance ya que en 2009 estos cargos fueron ocupados por un 37,6% de mujeres. Para 2030 se espera que esta cifra alcance hasta el 50%. Colombia pasó del puesto 53 al puesto 39 en el informe del Foro Económico Mundial sobre lo que llamamos la brecha de género.

De acuerdo con (Gobernanza de Boyacá, 2020) el departamento de Boyacá implementó el Plan Decenal de Salud Pública a través de la metodología PASE para la equidad en salud, en el cual participaron actores institucionales y comunitarios bajo un enfoque de determinantes, y como resultado el Plan Territorial 2015-2023. se aprueba el plan para el Departamento de Boyacá. Este plan es un marco político como departamento para los próximos diez años, a través del cual se espera intervenir en los determinantes que afectan la salud de la población boyacense.

Estadísticas en Colombia realizadas por Fedegan, muestran que existen 670.000 productores de leche y según el Consejo Nacional de Acreditación CNA, en 2014, un número de 1.104 municipios colombianos reportaron producción de leche. Es un sector que está monopolizado por los grandes pasteurizadores que reciben las mayores ganancias.

Gran parte de la producción del país es informal, situación lamentable para los pequeños agricultores. Existe un desequilibrio en cuanto a la regulación de precios por parte de las grandes industrias de productos lácteos, quienes recogen el líquido, ofrecen y regulan los precios a su conveniencia, afectando la producción de los campesinos y aprovechando sus necesidades.

El sector también se ve afectado por las importaciones de productos lácteos, aumentos en los insumos agrícolas, dificultades en la distribución, y también hay fallas en las regulaciones que no protegen la producción local, lo que deja en claro que tenemos una institucionalidad débil. La industria ganadera es muy importante en la tradición del país, sin embargo, el 63% de los hogares dedicados a la producción de leche son considerados pobres (Ciro, 2020).

Carlos Romero, líder del proyecto, expresa otra problemática: “Las mujeres del campo han sido las mayores víctimas del sexismo masculino, así como del conflicto armado, tanto por desalojo de tierras, como por violencia simbólica, política o sexual que les ha hecho carecer de oportunidades para la realización de un Proyecto de vida”.

Naturleche pretende erradicar este problema contribuyendo a los siguientes objetivos de desarrollo sostenible: contribuirán a reducir las desigualdades en el campo, acabar con la pobreza, igualdad de género, generar trabajo digno, crecimiento económico, producción y consumo responsable.

Rutopia - Connecting travelers with local communities in a sustainable way

Rutopia is a social enterprise that allows travelers who are looking for authentic, off-the-beaten-path experiences, to access rural communities with hosts willing to share the natural paradises of their land.

Through their innovation, they generate more local work opportunities in tourism

Harvest rainwater / Cosecha de aguas lluvias

According to its investigations, VIC found a gap in the non-existent rainwater collection system in a country like Colombia, where there is an annual rainfall of around 3,200 cm3, seeing in it an economic opportunity due to the significant savings of recycling water for activities other than human consumption and on the other hand, the environmental and social commitment positively impacted by this system.

According to the latest United Nations world report presented at the 9th World Water Forum in March 2022, due to the growth in water use and its scarcity due to climate change, dependence on groundwater will increase which makes up 99% of the earth's fresh water.

Based on the above, the Colombian company has been a pioneer in the development of these systems, making them available to different sectors and vulnerable populations, despite the problems that arise along the way: "One of the main drawbacks of innovation in our country is the lack of access to relevant benchmarked studies and information, they are not for public consultation, which generates difficulty in research. This is clearly a cultural issue, that this type of information is not shared”, says Andrés Martínez, general director of VIC SAS.

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Dentro de sus investigaciones, VIC encontró una brecha al inexistente sistema de recolección de aguas lluvias en un país como Colombia, donde se tienen precipitaciones anuales de alrededor de 3.200 cm3, viendo en ello una oportunidad tanto económica por el significativo ahorro del reciclaje de agua para actividades distintas a consumo humano y por otra parte el compromiso ambiental y social impactado de manera positiva con este sistema.

De acuerdo con el último informe mundial de las Naciones Unidas, presentado en el 9° foro mundial del agua en marzo de 2022, debido al crecimiento de uso de agua y su escasez por el cambio climático, se aumentará la dependencia de las aguas subterráneas las cuales constituyen el 99% del agua dulce de la tierra.

Basado en lo anterior, la compañía colombiana ha sido pionera en el desarrollo de estos sistemas, poniéndolo al alcance de distintos sectores y poblaciones vulnerables, a pesar de las problemáticas que se presentan en el camino: “uno de los principales inconvenientes de innovación en nuestro país es la fata de acceso a estudios e información relevante de benchmarket, no son de consulta pública, lo que genera dificultad en la investigación. Esto es netamente un tema cultural, de que no se comparta este tipo de información”, asegura Andrés Martínez, director general de VIC SAS.

Sweat With Riss: More Than Movement

Sweat with Riss is a wellness platform that fits right into your daily lifestyle. Whether it’s a challenging workout, a restorative yoga flow, or a nourishing meditation that you’d like to stream virtually, you can find it on Sweat With Riss [SWR]. The signature sculpts class blends yoga, cardio, strength, and mindfulness all in one. Physical and mental health are interconnected, so every class speaks to your body, mind, and soul!

Sustainable fashion

66 North is a fashion company. What is unique about the company is their sustainable supply chain. The company's goal has been to produce durable clothing that lasts for decates. By making clothes that last, 66North is supporting UN goals number 12, for responsible consumption.

Newergy: Decentralized and Efficient Sustainability / Newergy: Sostenibilidad Descentralizada y Eficiente

Colombia generates more than 12 million tons of solid waste per year, 40% of which can be used. The National Planning Department, DNP, states "If Colombia continues with the same dynamics of waste generation, without finding solutions to improve the use of waste, in the year 2030 the country will have sanitary emergencies in most cities and a high generation of greenhouse gas emissions, which affects air quality" (DNP, 2021).

It is estimated that between 60% and 70% of the country's solid waste can be used through composting, considering that 40% of daily household waste is organic, but only 17% is recycled. Newergy seeks to mitigate and contribute with a solution to this problem, encouraging a correct separation of these from the source and the transformation of waste.

By 2020, in Colombia there were still 101 open dumps and 18 landfills in critical condition, which are oversaturated and have reached the end of their useful life or have a couple of years left. Newergy seeks to be a solution to a problem with a difficult panorama, but that can be controlled, from the classification, collection and transformation of organic waste. "The innovation seeks to "contribute to a proper waste management, in order to reduce emissions, carbon footprint and its direct and external costs, given that, through composting, the emission of 1 million tons of GHG can be avoided" Hernán Salamanca.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Colombia genera más de 12 millones de toneladas de residuos sólidos al año, de las cuales el 40% pueden ser aprovechable. El Departamento Nacional de Planeación, DNP, afirma “Si, Colombia continúa en la misma dinámica de generación de residuos, sin hallar soluciones para mejorar el aprovechamiento de estos, en el año 2030 el país tendrá emergencias sanitarias en la mayoría de las ciudades y una alta generación de emisiones de gases efecto invernadero, lo que afecta la calidad del aire”(DNP,2021).

Se estima que entre el 60% y 70% de los residuos sólidos del país se pueden aprovechar por medio del compostaje, considerando que el 40% de la basura diaria de los hogares es orgánica, pero, solo se recicla el 17%. Newergy busca mitigar y contribuir con una solución a este problema, incentivando una correcta separación de estos desde la fuente y la transformación de residuos.

Para el 2020, en Colombia aún existían 101 botaderos a cielo abierto y 18 rellenos sanitarios en estado crítico, los cuales están sobresaturados, y llegado al final de su vida útil o cuentan con un par de años más. Newergy busca ser una solución a un problema con un panorama difícil, pero que puede ser controlado, desde la clasificación, recolección y transformación de residuos orgánicos. “La innovación busca “contribuir con un adecuado manejo de los desechos, a fin de disminuir las emisiones, la huella de carbono y sus costos directos y externos, dado a que, por medio del compostaje se puede evitar la emisión de 1 millón de toneladas de GEI” Hernán Salamanca.

Sustainable and fashionable garments that raise awareness / Prendas sostenibles y de moda que conscientizan

One of the main problems that this innovation solves is the great environmental impact of the textile sector. In the words of its manager Estefanía Cárdenas: "they are the gateway for many people since you can buy clothes in a sustainable way." Taking into account that most people are used to buying in large and recognized clothing chains, better known as fast fashion, without seeing beyond what happens in the industry such as labor exploitation where they do not value the activity that these people carry out day by day without rest. That is why in Brunamu they seek to support local and Colombian enterprises through sustainable production, gradually making a change in the fashion industry with the reuse of garments that contribute significantly to the use of plastic waste and leftover fabric (remnants), which in many cases are wasted.

Estefanía indicates the savings that are made when using this type of textile:

• 793,987 plastic bottles - a plastic bottle can take up to 450 years to decompose

• 459 TON CO2 - Equivalent to the amount of emissions generated by a car if we went around the earth 115 times

• 300,198 M3 Water - Equivalent to the amount of water for 5,000 people to drink over 80 years

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Uno de los principales problemas que esta innovación soluciona es el gran impacto ambiental del sector textil, en palabras de su gerente Estefanía Cárdenas “son la puerta de entrada para muchas personas ya que se puede comprar ropa de una manera sostenible” teniendo en cuenta que la la mayoría de personas están acostumbradas a comprar en cadenas de ropa grande y reconocidas más conocidas como fast fashion sin ver más allá de lo que pasa en la industria como lo es la explotación laboral en este tipo de lugares donde no valoran la actividad que estas personas realizan día a día sin, es por eso que a través de Brunamu buscan apoyar los emprendimientos locales y colombianos por medio de una producción sostenible, haciendo un cambio paulatinamente en la industria de la moda con la reutilización de prendas que aportan significativamente en el aprovechamiento de los residuos plásticos y sobrantes de tela (retazos), que en muchas ocasiones se desperdician

Estefanía indica cuales son los ahorros que se hacen al utilizar este tipo de textil:

• 793.987 botellas de plástico - una botella de plástico puede tardar hasta 450 años en descomponerse

• 459 TON CO2 - Equivale a la cantidad de emisiones que genera un carro si le diéramos la vuelta a la tierra 115 veces

• 300.198 M3 Agua - Equivale a la cantidad de agua para que 5.000 personas tomen a lo largo de 80 años


Residual water is not the end, it is the ORIGIN / El agua residual no es el fin, es el ORIGEN

According to the article "The fundamental right to water in Colombia," "Water is an essential resource for the existence of all living beings, and stands as a transcendental element for the development of multiple activities of human beings, among which we can highlight: food, health, industry, agriculture and recreation." (Sutory, 2015)

“According to calculations by the Ministry of Environment, Housing and Territorial Development (2002), of the 56% of the rural population that has some type of water supply, only 6% have water that is given some treatment to disinfect it. This means that thousands of boys and girls, especially in rural areas of the country and in the poorest municipalities, are still at risk of contracting diseases such as diarrhea and cholera, which in many cases can be fatal.” (PROCURADURIA.GOV. CO, nd)

According to the DNP – National Planning Department “The water and sanitation sector is fundamental since it contributes decisively to the quality of life of the population by improving health conditions and the economic development of the regions. In this context, the sector is a fundamental variable for territorial economic growth, by generating conditions for the expansion of urban, commercial and industrial activity in cities.” Due to the above, being able to generate a mechanism that allows maximizing the benefits for the development of industrial activities and at the same time increasing the economic development and well-being of the "affected" communities, without destroying our primordial natural resource, becomes an important challenge.

According to Ernesto Melo, during his experience in the oil sector it became clear that, “Access to water is increasingly difficult due to environmental regulations and above all due to the social conditions of the communities where the projects are carried out, where not only because of the economic and social costs, but mainly due to environmental responsibility, it was necessary to seek alternatives that allow the efficient reuse of water." So he began his research on initiatives, technologies and developments that could help him meet the objectives, finding that the solutions that existed, "were inefficient and yes, too expensive in infrastructure or maintenance".

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De acuerdo con el articulo La fundamentalidad del derecho al agua en Colombia, “El agua es un recurso imprescindible para la existencia de cualquier ser vivo, y se erige en elemento trascendental para el desarrollo de múltiples actividades del ser humano, entre las cuales se pueden destacar: la alimentación, la sanidad, la industria, la agricultura y la recreación.” (Sutorius, 2015)

“Según cálculos del Ministerio de Ambiente, Vivienda y Desarrollo Territorial (2002), del 56% de la población rural que tiene alguna forma de abastecimiento de agua, solo el 6% cuenta con agua a la que se le da algún tratamiento para desinfectarla. Esto significa que miles de niños y niñas, especialmente en las zonas rurales del país y en los municipios más pobres, aún enfrentan el riesgo de contraer enfermedades como la diarrea y el cólera, que en muchos de los casos puede llegar a ser mortal” (PROCURADURIA.GOV.CO, s.f.)

Acorde con el DNP – Departamento Nacional de Planeación “El sector de agua y saneamiento es fundamental dado que contribuye en forma determinante en la calidad de vida de la población, por causa del mejoramiento de las condiciones de salubridad y el desarrollo económico de las regiones. En este contexto, el sector es variable fundamental para el crecimiento económico territorial, al generar condiciones para la expansión de la actividad urbana, comercial e industrial en las ciudades”. Por lo anterior, poder generar un mecanismo que permita maximizar los beneficios para el desarrollo de las actividades industriales y al mismo tiempo incrementar el desarrollo económico y de bienestar de las comunidades “afectadas”, sin acabar con nuestro recurso natural primordial se vuelve un reto importante.

Según Ernesto Melo, actual CEO de la empresa, durante su experiencia en el sector petrolero, se evidencio que “es cada vez más difícil el acceso al agua debido a las regulaciones ambientales y sobre todo, las condiciones sociales de las comunidades donde se realizan los proyectos, donde no solo por el costo económico, social, si no principalmente de responsabilidad ambiental, había que buscar alternativas que permitieran el reúso eficiente del agua ”, por lo cual, inicia su investigación frente a iniciativas, tecnologías y/o desarrollos que pudieran ayudarlo a cumplir con los objetivos, encontrando que las soluciones que habían, “no eran muy eficientes y sí, demasiado costosos en infraestructura o mantenimiento”.

Virtual HealthCare for all of Indonesia

AlteaCare is a health services company based in Indonesia with its main service being teleconsultation and virtual health services. It also offers a variety of other services such as the purchasing and delivery of prescription drugs, supplements, and vitamins, and vaccination registration and support. All of this can be done in its all-in-one encompassing app. AlteaCare’s main innovation comes in the form of how it offers its teleconsultation service. AlteaCare is one of the few teleconsultations and virtual health companies in Indonesia and that is already a big achievement in and of itself. They though innovated to separate themselves from their competitors by conducting teleconsultation through real-time video calls from the app not just through chats and text messages. Alvin Salim, a business analyst at AlteaCare, mentions that AlteaCare has been able to serve 150,000 users as they are able and more suited to serve chronic patients and allowed its customers to be able to convey their conditions and illnesses much better to the doctors by allowing them to talk in real-time and show more through video call. Furthermore, it has also created better relationships between the users and the doctors along with increased trust and better communication. This innovation by AlteaCare is also further enhanced through the innovation of the app which allows users to schedule and conduct teleconsultation all through the app. AlteaCare also provides the service of allowing the users to purchase their prescribed medicine through the app afterward and get it delivered to them. This has provided a lot of ease and comfort for the users as well as saved them a lot of time and trouble.

A Chemical Company changing the stigma

Chemours is a global chemical company founded in 2015 as a spin-off from DuPont which was founded in 1802. Though Chemours has a rich history, but an entrepreneurial spirit. Chemours takes pride in saying that they are a different kind of chemical company, and they prove it every day by setting high industry standards. Chemours’ innovation efforts reflect on aspects of their Corporate Responsibility Commitment that they implement in their business culture and business practices. Three important aspects are inspired people, shared planet, and excellence. They help demonstrate Chemours priorities in being a different kind of chemical company for their employees, society, and the overall well-being of the planet. Chemours holds a different commitment and shifts in culture compared to other chemical companies which makes Chemours employees proud to be part of the organization. With the help of Jessica Blint and Andy Liu, employees at Chemours, I was able to get their perspective of what it is like working for a chemical company that is an ethical industry leader.

A venture made by women for women

From the beginning of the project, Elizabeth wanted to look for sustainable alternatives that could replace the traditional single-use products for women during their menstrual period. Currently, there is a high environmental impact that consumers are still not fully aware of.

"Many people have questioned me what is good about this venture, and that is where I started to do the study where according to the DANE (National Administrative Department of Statistics), we are about 48 million people in Colombia, of which, 51. 2% of us are women, who menstruate around 30 to 35 years between 3 to 5 days, using an average of 5 disposable pads a day, this in a year, we would be talking about 60 days of menstruation, and if we take into account the number of pads, we would be generating 51,000 kilograms of non-degradable waste". - Elizabeth Viana

According to the above, it is evident how Elivcup addresses a problem that generates an environmental impact and that probably large multinationals do not turn their eyes to it given the traditional approach to business, where they seek the generation of wealth and financial surplus and not a business model oriented towards long-term sustainability and care for the environment.

The role of women in society is also a determining factor and the fact that "just because we are women, we generate non-degradable waste and how from fertility we take care of the planet and how I, as a woman, help to reduce the impact I am generating on the planet" - Elizabeth Viana

In addition to this, part of the resources generated by Elivcup are reinvested in the growth of the company and in social inclusion and education programs for the rural community of the department of Cundinamarca, focusing on girls and women with low incomes or disabilities, thus reducing the gap of misinformation and school dropouts due to lack of knowledge on the subject.