Zerofootprint launches the world’s first social currency:
TORONTO , March 27, 2014 GOODcoins is a barter currency, issued when a measurable social good occurs and retired when socially beneficial products are purchased. Every GOODcoin issued and spent results in measurable, positive social benefit. Zerofootprint is currently using GOODcoins to foster positive behavioral change in chronic disease prevention, altering the diet of children and adolescents to reduce obesity, enhancing the effectiveness of rehabilitation programs and in prescription compliance. It is also using GOODcoins to motivate energy and water reduction in households. GOODcoins are typically spent on foods that are nutritionally beneficial, devices that can monitor and help promote health, sensors that can measure and facilitate energy/water reduction and on services that are socially beneficial. Zerofootprint, with the help of its scientific advisory board, curates the products and services that may be bought with GOODcoins. GOODcoins software measures actual benefits achieved (IE walking 30 minutes a day, reduction in energy, number of volunteer days etc.) and operates the exchange that issues and retires GOODcoins. A key differentiator is that coins are only issued based on measured results. With the proliferation of sensors such measurement has become feasible and economical. GOODcoins enables not only the smart city but promotes truly smart citizen behavior and local commerce, backed by measurement that may be audited. There is no limit to the number of GOODcoins that may be issued. They are backed by funded social good. The more issued the more good has actually occurred. GOODcoins are not fungible into traditional currencies because of the restriction that they may only be used for socially beneficial products. They are not prone to speculation. GOODcoins offers corporations/communities/countries a positive currency for rewarding behavior that improves the health, wellbeing and low-carbon lifestyle of its employees/members/citizens. It complements a taxation system and has wide applicability worldwide for addressing the crippling cost of chronic diseases in both developing and developed countries. It also offers another tool for tackling climate-change. It addresses the thorny problem of how to have behavior change persist and become a habit. “Social Science and Behavioral Economics are clear about one thing, rewards are an essential ingredient in any behavioral change. GOODcoins is the first true evidence-based social currency that has the potential to change behavior on scale” commented Ron Dembo, the Founder and CEO of Zerofootprint.
For more information or to enquire about becoming a GOODcoins partner, please contact info@goodcoins.ca. Zerofootprint is a clean technology company that produces large-scale positive behavioral change. Zerofootprint Software Inc., 197 Spadina Ave., Toronto, Ontario M5T 2C8, Canada