Concepts Overview

This section provides detailed explanations of the core concepts behind the Carrot Network. Start with the Platform Architecture for a high-level overview of how the system works end-to-end.

Supply chain and verification

• Recycling Supply Chain — The end-to-end flow of materials from waste generation through collection, processing, and certified recycling. Covers the six participant roles.
• Network Integrators — Third-party software applications that digitize supply chain operations and submit data to the Carrot Network via the API.
• dMRV — digital Measurement, Reporting and Verification. The protocol that ensures every recycling claim is backed by real-world evidence.
• Methodology Execution — How Carrot's dMRV system processes supply chain data and executes methodology rules to produce verified outcomes.
• Rewards Distribution — How credit revenue reaches every participant in the recycling supply chain.
• Explorer — The Carrot Explorer (explore.carrot.eco): the public interface for viewing and verifying methodology frameworks, MassIDs, certificates, accreditations, credit purchases, retirements, and supply chain audit trails — distinct from blockchain block explorers.

Tokens and credits

• MassIDs — Verified batches of waste material — the foundational data unit of the Carrot Network. Implemented as soulbound NFTs.
• Tokenization Process — How verified MassIDs become on-chain tokens: metadata creation, IPFS storage, and minting on blockchain.
• Token Hierarchy — The five-layer token system from MassID through Certificate to Credit and receipts.
• Certificates — GasID and RecycledID — methodology-specific credentials that link verified MassIDs to environmental credits. Implemented as soulbound NFTs.
• Credits — Units of verified environmental impact (1 credit = 1 metric ton). Tradeable; implemented as fungible ERC-20 tokens.
• Credit Purchase — How credit purchases work: the atomic on-chain transaction, certificate allocation, and integrated retirement.
• Credit Retirement — Permanently removing credits from circulation to claim the environmental offset.

Blockchain infrastructure

The Carrot Network's smart contracts are implemented in Solidity and compatible with any EVM-compatible blockchain. They are currently deployed on Polygon PoS. The following pages describe the on-chain infrastructure:

• Smart Contracts — The on-chain infrastructure powering the Carrot Network — contract architecture, categories, flows, and security.
• Interoperability — How Carrot smart contracts are designed for external integration and ecosystem composability.