Launching mymizu Web App (Open Source Beta): Enabling radical collaboration through technology
(Tokyo, Sept 15th, 2022)
mymizu’s new web app – a collaboration with an alliance of impact-driven companies and individuals - launched today. The release of this Open Source web app (beta) marks two important milestones for mymizu, - a global movement to help people tackle the plastics crisis. Firstly, anyone with software engineering skills can now contribute towards building new features and tools, ushering in a new era of open collaboration. Secondly, the web app itself has several new features and is accessible on both PC and mobile, ensuring greater accessibility for a wider range of people.
Since 2019, Social Innovation Japan’s mymizu initiative, an award-winning platform tackling plastic waste by connecting people to over 200,000 points around the world where they can refill their reusable bottles, has helped hundreds of thousands of people reduce their plastic consumption and live more sustainably. In three years, the crowdsourced, co-created platform has gained users across 45 countries, partnered with leading brands, city governments, and community groups, and triggered a movement to tackle the plastics crisis.
Photo credit: 1) Code Chrysalis, 2) Code Chrysalis, 3) Social Innovation Japan
The new web app was designed and built in collaboration with highly skilled volunteers and experts united by a mission to use technology for good. TBWA\HAKUHODO supported the design of the platform’s user experience and interface, and technology company Strata has advised on open-sourcing and built the platform’s base. A team of volunteer software engineers convened at a kickoff hackathon on 11th July, co-hosted by mymizu and Tokyo coding boot camp Code Chrysalis, to start building the platform’s features released in the launch today.
You can find the live web app here: https://map.mymizu.co/
mymizu, being a community-driven, collaborative initiative, needs your support as we seek to improve this first version! A few years to get involved are outline below.
Feedback: If you spot something that isn’t working, or have feedback on how we can improve the web app, please let us know via this form.
Donate to support the volunteer-drive mymizu platform, which is provided for free to all, without ads or sales. Details here!
Software Engineers: Join our open source community and help us! Each line of code you write has the potential to drastically reduce plastic across Japan and the many countries in which our community is active. More details at our github page.
Register your business: If you are the owner/manager of a shop, cafe, hotel or business, join over 2,000 partners by registering free-of-charge as a mymizu refill partner here!
Going forward, Social Innovation Japan and partners look forward to continued collaboration from those passionate about using their skills for environmental impact. We will continue to build upon this beta version of the open source web app to create a platform that can truly make refilling the norm across Japan and the world, and change attitudes towards sustainability at scale. Here’s to more radical collaboration for impact!
About mymizu
mymizu (“mizu” means water in Japanese) is a multiple-award-winning initiative to tackle plastic waste. The mymizu app connects people to 200,000 free water refill stations (water fountains and partner cafes, shops, hotels) globally. Using mymizu, it’s possible to refill your water bottle anywhere – it’s good for the planet, the body and the wallet! Furthermore, mymizu provides creative educational experiences and consultancy services, building a movement towards a world where sustainable living is easy and fun!
Website: www.mymizu.co. The mymizu app is internationally available for download on iOS and Android.
About Social Innovation Japan
Social Innovation Japan, selected by Nikkei in its prestigious list of ‘100 businesses creating the future of Japan’, is a community of problem-solvers, thinkers, and doers. Since 2017, the organisation has worked with some of the world’s leading brands, entrepreneurs, local governments and nonprofits to drive positive change; from running experiential education programs and building a diverse community of change makers, to creating award-winning products and services that tackle real-world problems. Together, we’re creating a movement for change from Japan, with the rest of the world.
Website: www.socialinnovationjapan.com
About our Collaborators
About TBWA\HAKUHODO
TBWA\HAKUHODO is a full-service advertising agency based in Tokyo, established in 2006 as a joint venture between Hakuhodo and TBWA Worldwide Inc. With the combination of TBWA’s DISRUPTION(R) methodology, a global network spanning over 100 countries/regions and Hakuhodo’s in-depth knowledge of the Japanese market and longstanding reputation for trustworthiness, the agency continues to create and deliver high-quality solutions to all of our clients – solutions that cause change and have the power to get noticed.
www.tbwahakuhodo.co.jp
About Strata
Strata is a global collective of ex-CTOs, engineers, designers, and product managers, founded in New York and based in Tokyo, Japan. Providing CTO consulting, staff augmentation, and software development for the entire life-cycle of a product, Strata has helped more than 40 industry-leading companies craft excellent software and build high-performing development teams since 2014.
www.strata.co.jp
About Code Chrysalis
Code Chrysalis is a coding school based in Tokyo with the only advanced full-stack software engineering bootcamp in Asia. We are creating and leading the third wave of coding bootcamps by preparing our students for engineering leadership. Our courses are unique in that they are designed to nurture not only strong technical skills, but also open communication skills, empathy, and versatile autonomy.
www.codechrysalis.io
For media or partnership enquiries please contact:
Eri Murazumi (media@mymizu.co)
一般社団法人SocialInnovation Japan / mymizu〒 150-0041 Jinnan 1-6-5, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Japan