Tulum’s Tomorrow, Accelerating the Regenaissance with ReFi Tulum

Update on Project Progress and Impact: TL;DR: We have been making significant progress towards a regenerative future for Tulum with the launch of ReFi Rides, plastic credits, and strengthening our strategic partnerships with organizations like Tulum Circula and Day Zero. Both of these initiatives have an impact on Climate and are actively reducing environmental GHGs by eliminating plastic deterioration in nature and landfills as well as developing more sustainable transportation options with minimal to zero emissions.

Additionally we are promoting and advancing new economic systems through continued community clean-up efforts rewarded with tokens that can be used for products, services and events. We are excited to be putting into play the proof points for the new economic system of the future - leveraging technology, community activations and environmental responsibility to pave the path to a regenerative future for Tulum.

Focus Areas:

• Plastic Neutrality and RWA (Real World Asset) eMobility: Our primary focus has been on our plastic neutrality initiatives and ReFi Rides, our eMotorbike NFT RWA fleet that blends digital ownership with eco-friendly transportation. We remain convinced of the importance and value of regenerative tourism for Tulum. However, as a small team coming into the low (summer) season for Tulum tourism, we have decided to lessen our focus on developing regenerative tourism experiences. However, we will continue to engage with inbound interest that comes our way for these types of regenerative experiences. We also see that ReFi Rides will also have an exciting role to play in building out our regenerative tourism options in the future.

• Collaborations and Ecosystem Building:

  • We have continued to forge and strengthen meaningful collaborations with various organizations and groups such as Tulum Circula, Day Zero, Tulum Coin DAO, Maximo Pollismo, Bocho Burger and Regen Week. These partnerships have allowed us to create proof points for the new economic systems and incentivization models we are building. This year, we were able to showcase how doing good deeds can result in real world benefits such as being able to go to a popular Tulum music festival like Day Zero.

• Launch of ReFi Rides:

  • Our latest initiative, ReFi Rides, marks a significant step towards a cleaner future through a unique blend of sustainability and technology, providing exclusive NFTs that grant unlimited access to electric motorbikes in Tulum. The NFTs grant access to unlimited use of eMotorbikes in Tulum and in future locations such as Mexico City that will make up our network. The Originals ReFi Rides NFTs represent 33 real world e-motorcycles and shared ownership in fleet vehicles. Through real-world asset staking, we aim to democratize ownership and incentivize sustainable transportation practices.

• Plastic Neutrality and Plastic Credits:

  • We successfully launched plastic credits on empower.eco, initiating payouts and incentivizing plastic waste reduction efforts. These credits serve as a tangible measure of our impact in mitigating plastic pollution and promoting environmental stewardship.

• To date we have reported 1,088 kilos of plastic sequestered and removed from the environment which has been recorded on the empower.eco blockchain. According to conservative methods to estimate GHG emissions, this would equate to 1,632 kg of CO2 equivalent or 1.5 kg of C02 for each kilogram of plastic removed from the environment.

Milestones Achieved in Tulum:

We achieved several milestones in Tulum during Q1, including:

1. Proving out our incentives and token rewards model through community engagement activities that resulted in sufficient tokens to purchase a ticket to the Day Zero Festival in Tulum.

2. Partnering with Bye Bye Plastic for a beach cleanup of Unesco World Heritage site Sian Kaan, resulting in the removal of 357 kilos of plastic.

3. Planting 50 trees as part of the Tulum’s Reforestation Campaign 2024, contributing to the greening of our community.

4. Hosting self-organized events at Tulum Circula to catalyze the community and support infrastructure needs.

5. Participating in various events in Tulum and globally to advocate for ReFi Initiatives such as BitBasel and Regen Week.

6. Continued weekly educational events hosted at the NFT Boutique on ReFi topics

Challenges Faced: Early in our acquisition process of the TF100 technology, it became evident that the existing technology did not meet our environmental or operational standards. We have worked with several different design engineers and settled on a modification that will both create a closed system for plastic re-molding and reduce operator exposure. The following modifications are currently underway that can achieve both goals:

• Modification of the plastic foundry to operate with a furnace and plastic flakes.
• Implementation of safety measures to protect operators.
• Manipulation of molds using rails to reduce contact with plastic.
• Installation of a mold base and a 4-inch extractor to prevent smoke dispersion.

Lessons Learned:

• We have learned the importance of flexibility and adaptability in navigating challenges and as eager as we were to start making new products from the TF100, we realized it would not be the right path forward.
• Building strong partnerships and collaborations is key to amplifying our impact and achieving meaningful outcomes in our initiatives.

Utilization of Additional Funding: The additional funding from the upcoming round will be instrumental in:

• Scaling our plastic neutrality and eMobility initiatives to reach a broader audience and deepen our impact.
• Complete modifications to the TF100 machine to optimize its performance and increase efficiency in plastic sequestration.
• Hire a dedicated operator to work regularly with the TF100 machine, ensuring consistent operation and maximizing plastic sequestration efforts.
• Strengthening our team and expanding our network of collaborators to sustain momentum and drive further innovation..
• Invest in business development activities to forge partnerships and collaborations that will further advance our mission and expand our reach.
• Continue to maintain and improve our fleet of ReFi Rides, ensuring reliable and sustainable transportation options for the community while reducing carbon emissions.

###The END of GG20 updates, previous grant applications can be found below ..........................................................................................................................

Updates GG19 Tulum's Regenaissance: A Path Forward with ReFi Tulum

TL;DR: ReFi Tulum is achieving critical milestones in its mission to create a regenerative future for Tulum. These milestones include forming valuable community and organizational partnerships, securing essential resources such as the TF100 machine, and continuing Web3 onboarding and education. Furthermore, we are mobilizing the community through citywide clean-up efforts, while engaging tourists in regenerative tourism. By combining technology with environmental responsibility, ReFi Tulum is at the forefront of the Web3 ecosystem, showing how blockchain can be a force for good in both local and global contexts.

1. Web3 Incentivization for Plastic Collection We're harnessing the power of Web3 and blockchain technology to incentivize individuals to actively participate in "mining" plastic waste. By tokenizing their efforts, we're creating a value-based circular economy within the Web3 space focused on plastic waste collection.

2. Community Onboarding and Education: We hold regular gatherings, focused on involving women in Web3 and ReFi. These educational initiatives promote a greater understanding of Web3 concepts, such as DAOs and quadratic funding, further expanding the knowledge base and participation in the ecosystem.

3. Web3-Enhanced Experiences: We've created experiences that utilize Web3 technologies to enhance the tourism in Tulum. By engaging tourists with planet-positive experiences that give back, we're not only creating unforgettable memories but also demonstrating the real-world utility of Web3 technologies.

Tulum's Transformation Milestones One of the pivotal aspects of GG18 grant, "Tulum's Tomorrow: Accelerating the Regenaissance" focused on advancing the principles of circularity within our local community of Tulum. We're thrilled to share the incredible progress and impact we have achieved in this area since August of 2023.

• TF100 Deployment In alignment with our circular economy goals, and in partnership with Petgas Circula, we have procured and successfully deployed the plastic transformation TF100 system. This thermoformation technology has the opportunity to become a transformative force in our plastic neutrality efforts. The machine works with all types of plastics and particularly well with plastics that traditionally have not been recyclable, such as plastic bags, wrappers, and potato chip bags, all of which rapidly decompose into microplastics once disposed of in landfills.

With the TF100, Tulum can become a thriving model of regeneration and circularity through the transformation of plastic waste into usable and saleable products to the public, as well as organizations participating in our plastic neutrality program that aims to reduce waste, optimize resources, and create new economic opportunities for the community.

This milestone represents a significant step forward in our mission to create a circular economy focused on plastic waste transformation.

• Expanded Alliances: We've successfully formed alliances with local and international organizations such as Petgas, Tulum Circula and TulumCoin DAO that share our vision for Tulum’s Regenaissance. Our partnership with DayZero, now in its third year with the Guardians of Nature Web3 collective, continues to flourish and contribute significantly to our mission of environmental regeneration. With ReFi Tulum, we have expanded the scope of our collaboration to create more cleanup activations in Tulum and collaborate with the community at large. Participants are not only rewarded with a beautiful, cleaner Tulum, but also with tickets to the DayZero festival, a celebration of music, culture, and environmental consciousness. We have also partnered with Tulum Coin DAO to reward participants with 100 TulumCoins for every community action. We are using web3 and alternative economic incentives to catalyze our community into action while onboarding people into the worlds of decentralization, blockchain and NFTs.

• **City-wide Community Cleanup Mobilization:**A fundamental cornerstone of our vision was to come together with many other local groups of tourists and locals to conduct massive city wide cleanup initiatives. Thanks to a collaborative effort including Tulum Circula, the Tulum municipality, and many other local neighborhood groups and teams, we collectively cleared vast amounts of plastic waste from Tulum's neighborhoods, downtown, jungles and coastline.This tangible progress is a testament to the power of community engagement and our collective commitment to regenerative practices. Additionally, the community was rewarded with TulumCoin tokens and in partnership with DayZero, participants are also eligible for a reward in the form of a free ticket to the festival with proof of participation in 5 clean up events for the city. Through these incentivization systems encouraging all to engage in cleanup activities, we are reinforcing our commitment to the de-plastification of the planet.

• Web3 and ReFi Education and Onboarding: ReFi Tulum's community gatherings have been well-received and varied such as Web3 Women events, community clean up activities and parent and children education. We've seen a growing interest in Web3 concepts and the ReFi movement, with more people actively participating and learning.

In our continuous pursuit of knowledge and community empowerment, we're delighted to share our recent inspiring initiative. We organized a "Katrina NFT Art Day," where we brought together children and parents to delve into the fascinating world of NFT art. This event was an opportunity for families to learn how to transform their children's artistic creations into NFTs, a gateway to the world of Web3 and blockchain technology.

Our commitment to education and onboarding extends beyond these innovative gatherings. We have continued to host weekly meetups focused on female leadership with incredible regenerative leaders like Paola Barreiro, TedX speaker & author of "Vivienda Sustentable," Barbara Lima, founder of The Weave Magazine as well as Indira Kempis, Senator of Nuevo Leon and proponent of decentralization. These dialogues have become vital platforms for insightful discussions, knowledge exchange, and the exploration of groundbreaking ideas. Together, they further solidify Tulum's standing as a ReFi hub and source of inspiration for the broader global community.

• Fostering Regenerative Tourism through the Circular Economy: At ReFi Tulum, we see a cohesive thread that connects our plastic sequestration efforts to a new plastics based circular economy and the promotion of responsible and regenerative tourism in Tulum. By taking on-the-ground action and showing our community what is possible we encourage a shift in perspective and are paving the way for an experience that becomes a journey in conscious tourism, where every step you take leaves a lasting regenerative imprint on the environment and the local communities.

• Regenerative Experiences: We will soon be launching our a la carte regenerative tourism experiences. These innovative experiences, purchasable with crypto, will take visitors on unforgettable journeys through Tulum's natural and cultural wonders, all while actively participating in regenerative actions.

The strides we've made collectively symbolize Tulum's promising future as a circular, regenerative, and ecologically harmonious destination. Our circularity initiatives and partnerships have placed us on the path to a Regenaissance in Tulum, reinforcing the interdependence of our ecosystems and well-being of our community. As we look forward, we remain committed to these core values and excited about the journey ahead.

...... previous GG 18 application details below

Tulum’s Tomorrow: Accelerating the Regenaissance with ReFi Tulum

ReFi Tulum is an instrumental force driving positive change for Mexico and the world, embracing the two key pillars of circular economies and regenerative tourism to shape a sustainable, equitable future for generations to come. Our vision focuses on innovation, community engagement, women's empowerment, and impactful storytelling to ignite the "Regenaissance."

Why Circularity and Tourism?

The world is at a pivotal point, demanding a paradigm shift towards circular economies and regenerative practices. Tulum, with its pristine beaches, lush landscapes, and vibrant culture, has captured the hearts of travelers, digital nomads, and expats from around the globe. However, its popularity has come at a cost; the growth of the population and influx of millions of visitors have put a strain on its fragile ecosystems, infrastructure, and cultural heritage.

Tulum's allure is deeply rooted in its natural beauty and rich heritage. By adopting circular economies and regenerative tourism, we're not only preserving these unique attributes but enhancing them. Our innovative initiatives bring together tourists, local communities, and businesses in a collective effort to restore and protect Tulum's environment. This approach goes beyond sustainability; it ensures Tulum thrives for generations to come.

Circular Economies through Innovation: Technology and Incentivization

With our core partner, Petgas, we're leading the charge in the de-plastification of the planet, leveraging existing technology solutions to address a lack of waste disposal options especially prevalent in Mexico, as well as impacting humanity around the world. Our mission is clear: to embrace circular economies and regenerative tourism as pivotal strategies that will shape a sustainable and equitable future for generations to come.

Plastic pollution is a global crisis, and ReFi Tulum is committed to addressing it head-on. Here's how we're tackling this critical issue through Web3 incentivization, Education, and Innovation:

• Web3 Incentivization: We're harnessing the power of blockchain tech and Web3 to incentivize and reward individuals for their active participation and “mining” of plastic waste from the environment.
  • Through a measurement and rewards system powered by a mobile app, we want to change the way people, both tourists and locals, see plastic, from a waste into a resource. They will see their wallets gain tokens with each plastic drop-off and successful plastic weigh-in.
  • We plan to use NFTs to fund investments in plants, machinery, measurement, and logistics to start the circular flow of waste to sellable products and passive income streams for holders. NFTs can be used in a multitude of ways from plastic traceability and measurement to rewards for actions such as POAPs, and many types of membership structures that provide access to machinery and other benefits.

-Education ReFi Tulum is deeply committed to fostering education and awareness as cornerstones of our mission. We intend to cultivate a learning ecosystem that spans various dimensions of sustainability, regenerative practices, and plastic waste management. Through workshops, training sessions, and engaging experiences, we will empower local communities, tourists, and children with knowledge about responsible plastic use, circular economies, and the significance of the Blue Circular Economy.

• Innovation - Thermoformation for New Products: Through thermoformation technology, ReFi Tulum plans to transform plastic into a variety of usable resellable products, from furniture and building materials to plastic collection bins. This process not only addresses plastic waste but also supports our self-sustainability, as the repurposed plastic contributes to our operations and initiatives.

• Measurement In our commitment to tackle plastic pollution, we have implemented a beginner system of measurement and traceability. For instance, each plastic jaguar collector, when filled, holds 12 kg of plastic waste. At the National Beach jaguar zone, the placement of 3 of these collectors results in the collection of 36 kg every 5 days. This cumulative effort, amounting to 180 kg per month, effectively neutralizes significant amounts of plastic waste. This measurement and traceability approach ensures the tangible impact of our initiatives in combating plastic pollution.

Through these innovative strategies and collaborations, we can lead the charge in deplastifying the planet. By leveraging technology and aligning incentive structures, we can turn the tide against plastic pollution, and showcase that success to inspire others around the world.

Regenerative Tourism Movement to Clean, Restore, and Transform

The ReFi Tulum Regenerative Tourism initiative aims to reimagine Tulum's tourism industry by shifting from a focus on sustainability to regenerative practices. By engaging tourists, businesses, and local communities, we aspire to create a thriving and resilient destination that preserves and enhances Tulum's natural and cultural heritage for generations to come. We believe Tulum and the surrounding area offer the right and necessary conditions to be a successful model to the world of how to regeneratively develop a tourism industry that not only mitigates its negative impacts but actively contributes to the restoration, preservation, and thriving of both the natural environment and local communities, setting a powerful example for global destinations seeking a more responsible and regenerative approach to tourism.

Tulum's Riviera, known for its exquisite natural splendor, ancestral heritage, and magnetic allure, serves as the canvas to illustrate tales of regeneration. These experiential narratives not only profoundly impact travelers but also leave enduring, regenerative imprints on the very places they explore. We want to shift tourism from exploitative to one of rejuvenation, all while targeting the critical global issue of plastic waste.

Our Vision: Immersive Regenerative Experiences

Our goal is to develop immersive and educational experiences that provide visitors with an opportunity to actively participate in regenerative activities such as beach cleanups, ecosystem restoration, and sustainable agriculture. This will also provide an opportunity to showcase local Mexican projects to the world for greater visibility, growth, and project acceleration. Using regenerative tourism to create a collective effort to regenerate and protect Tulum's ecosystem.

Experiences

Engage in IRL (in real life) utility of web3 planet positive collections such as the House of Panther, Restore Coral, CocoCoin.club, Entre Monedas, Maya Spirits, Crypto Papaya, and many others in regenerative land cultivation and other ReFi companies that are using web3 to accelerate positive change. We will develop experiences as well as a 7 or 8-day road trip that visits the best examples of ReFi in the area.

Collaborative Restoration

Work with local groups and government agencies to develop scalable mangrove planting and jungle restoration operations and attract global organizations for large scale planting activities.

SolarPunk Electric Scooter Private Beach Experience is the first a la carte regenerative tourism experience that can be purchased with crypto and takes visitors on an unforgettable journey along Tulum's Mayan Jaguar Road, with a stop at the breathtaking archeological ruins while engaging in regenerative practices and ending at a private beach for self regeneration and ocean healing.

Community Engagement

-ReFi Web3 Women gatherings take place once a month at the NFT Boutique. These gatherings cover and educate on topics such as What is ReFi, quadratic funding, and DAOs. The aim is to inform and empower women to join the ReFi movement and share their insights with their communities.

• Development of art and functional works with children made from plastic, as well as artworks turned into NFTs.
• Collaborate with indigenous leaders and businesses to develop web3 educational programs that resonate with the community.
• Creation of workshops and training sessions for children’s web3 education and parent onboarding in parallel to helping children.

Use of Funds

The allocation of funds will play a pivotal role in advancing our mission. Specifically, a substantial portion of the funds raised will be directed towards the acquisition of the TF100 machine, a cutting-edge technology that holds the key to transforming plastic waste into valuable resources. This crucial step will mark the initiation of our blue circular economy, where repurposed plastic will be utilized in the creation of functional and sustainable products. By investing in the TF100 machine, we are laying the foundation for a self-sustaining ecosystem that not only combats plastic pollution but also generates revenue to fuel our regenerative initiatives.

To supplement these costs, we are embracing the innovative power of NFTs Through strategic NFT offerings, we aim to not only raise additional funds but also engage our community in a unique and rewarding way. NFTs will serve as more than just digital assets; they will be a symbol of collective action, allowing supporters to have a tangible stake in our circular economy journey and allow holders to take part in sales from the new economy outputs. This fusion of cutting-edge technology and community engagement will drive the financial sustainability of our initiatives and amplify their impact. Your support will directly contribute to jumpstarting this transformative cycle of environmental restoration and economic empowerment, made possible through Gitcoin Grant quadratic funding.

ReFi Tulum stands as a potent catalyst for transformative change, not only in Mexico but across the globe. Rooted in the pillars of circular economies and regenerative tourism, our mission is a resounding call to action, forging a path towards a sustainable and equitable future for generations to come. A vision fueled by innovation, community empowerment, women's agency, and impactful storytelling ignites what we proudly term the "Regenaissance."