For our assignment we developed an application called Ecolens AI. Ecolens AI is an application that allows eco-conscious consumers to make informed decisions with regards to buying products with a high sustainability score. We developed this application to cater to the ever-growing consumer demand for sustainable products. With the use of Ecolens AI we hope to bridge the gap between intent and action in sustainable purchasing. By integrating Google Cloud Vision API and ChatGPT customers can take a picture of a product, after which they are instantly provided with a sustainability rating of that product. Should the product score relatively low on a certain sustainability metrics (soil, air pollution, etc.) the application will suggest eco-friendly alternatives.
The Problem: Intention-Action Gap in Sustainable Consumption
The issue that lies at the heart of this problem is that consumers, although motivated to make environmentally conscious purchasing decisions, face significant barriers when trying to do so. Misinformation, greenwashing and the time and effort it takes to research the level of product sustainability contributes to the so-called intention-action gap. This phenomenon shows the discrepancy between a consumer’s desire to act sustainably and their actual purchasing behaviour. Despite initiatives like the EU’s Ecolabels, many consumers remain skeptical about sustainability claims due to misleading marketing tactics. Our application is aimed at addressing this issue by making it significantly easier for consumers to find reliable product information.
EcoLens AI: A Solution for Sustainable Shopping
EcoLens AI removes most of the transaction costs associated with researching sustainability. Users can simply scan a product using their phone’s camera, and the application, powered by the Google Cloud Vision API, identifies the product. After this, with the help of the ChatGPT API, it will scan the internet and find all the information related to the earlier detected product. It will find what materials it is made of, the supply chain, the lifetime, and more information to assess how sustainable and eco-friendly the product is. Then, the application lets ChatGPT return an eco-friendliness score (between 0% – 100%) and a reliability score (between 0% – 100%) to show how valid the eco-friendliness score and associated information is. Not only does this remove a lot of transaction costs, but it brings increased convenience by showing the consumer, in a few seconds, how sustainable the product in front of you is. EcoLens AI tackles greenwashing by using verified data from trusted certification bodies such as FairTrade and ISO. It assesses the credibility of product claims and warns users if the information provided is vague or unreliable. By offering users this transparency, EcoLens AI aims to close the intention-action gap and reduce consumer frustration when trying to shop responsibly.
Business Model and Strategic Impact
EcoLens AI operates on an affiliate-based revenue model. It generates income through partnerships with e-commerce platforms like Amazon and Bol.com by recommending more sustainable alternatives to the scanned products. This model not only benefits the app but also encourages manufacturers to improve transparency and sustainability to achieve higher ratings within the app.
Challenges and Future Outlook
An algorithm using artificial intelligence is only as useful as its input data, so having access to accurate and up-to-date data is critical, especially to combat greenwashing. To ensure credibility, EcoLens AI partners with reputable certification bodies and refines its data sources. Additionally, operational costs, like AI maintenance, poses a challenge but is manageable with strategic planning.
