2022 Call for Code

In its fifth year, the Call for Code Global Challenge called upon developers and innovators worldwide to channel open innovation in crafting technology solutions that confront urgent global sustainability challenges in bold, tangible ways. The need for impactful action, as emphasized in the United Nations’ 2022 climate report, has never been more pressing to avoid the gravest consequences of climate change. These solutions must reach all communities, particularly those historically marginalized and disproportionately affected by environmental harm. Technology, with its unparalleled potential for scalable, transformative solutions, stands at the forefront of the global fight for sustainability.

Home gardening is not always optimized for sustainability. Excess produce is often thrown out because gardeners don’t know how to distribute it efficiently to individuals in the community who need it. Gardeners also might unintentionally follow unsustainable practices, causing negative environmental consequences. GardenMate connects gardeners who have excess produce with individual people who need food. It also uses IBM Watson to provide gardeners and small farm owners access to information on sustainable gardening practices.

Millions of tons of plastic threaten ocean biodiversity, the health of marine species, food safety, human health and more. Several large organizations are leading initiatives to clean up the oceans, but projects to stop plastic from reaching the ocean in the first place are often too expensive and complex for under-resourced regions. Pπ (Personal Plastic Interceptor) is an edge computing solution that monitors waterflows in sewage and drainage canals. Powered by AI, the device’s camera can differentiates items like plastics from organic waste, and the system automatically intercepts only the dangerous debris from the water. This low-cost device can be set up easily by any individual wanting to stop plastic debris from flowing through their neighborhood drainage systems.

While e-commerce allows users to easily buy goods from the comfort of their homes, consuming only new products also depletes natural resources and increases waste and pollution. Consumers may not be aware of second-hand products available nearby and are not always in the habit of looking for them. The Nearbuy solution is a shopping assistant that integrates with existing online shopping sites such as Amazon, IKEA, and Structube. When shopping these sites, a notification automatically appears if similar pre-loved items can be found locally. Users can then review the suggested item and buy local. The team hopes their solution can lessen the consumption of materials that create the biggest waste footprint and reduce the environmental impacts of long-distance shipping.