GreenCrew

Pokémon GO meets recycling — GreenCrew uses ML object detection to identify items, show real impact, and gamify sustainability with XP, leaderboards, and redeemable campus rewards.”

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Inspiration

Students throw away valuable and recyclable items every semester without knowing their resale value or environmental impact. We wanted to transform sustainability into something exciting — not a chore, but a game. That’s how GreenCrew was born: making eco-actions as engaging as Pokémon GO.

What it does

GreenCrew is a gamified sustainability platform powered by ML. Students scan items with their phone → our ML model identifies the object. The app shows real environmental impact (CO₂ saved, recyclability, energy saved). Players earn XP, achievements, and leaderboard ranks for every eco-friendly action. XP can be redeemed as rewards (campus store credits, Starbucks, Dunkin gift cards). Universities get a dashboard with measurable sustainability impact across campus.

How we built it

Frontend: React + TailwindCSS for modern, responsive UI/UX. Added Framer Motion + Gamermotion for smooth animations and game-like effects.

Object Detection: TensorFlow.js + COCO-SSD model, running fully in-browser for instant ML recognition.

Gamification: Firebase for leaderboards, XP, streaks, achievements, and redeemable rewards (campus store, Starbucks, Dunkin).

Deployment: Vercel hosting with Progressive Web App (PWA) support for fast, mobile-first, offline-capable usage.

Challenges we ran into

Frontend Integration: Connecting the ML pipeline with the React interface. Smooth Design: Balancing animations, responsiveness, and accessibility. Leaderboards: Real-time syncing with Firebase for accuracy and speed. Game Loop: Designing an engaging flow from scan → impact → rewards.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

Built a working end-to-end pipeline: camera → ML detection → impact → XP → leaderboard. Developed a polished PWA UI with accessibility and responsive design in under 24 hours. Validated that gamification can actually change sustainability behavior on campus.

What we learned

How to integrate ML models directly into the browser using TensorFlow.js. The importance of gamification psychology (XP, streaks, rewards) in driving adoption. Building sustainability tools isn’t just about data — it’s about making people care enough to act.

What's next for GreenCrew

Expand dataset with more items and train larger detection models. Partner with universities to run campus-wide competitions. Launch a rewards marketplace with real eco-friendly brands. Add social features: friend challenges, team-based events. Scale to corporate offices and cities, making sustainability a global game.

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