Omani team develops plant-based detergent substitute

 Omani youth have extracted a plant product to replace laundry detergent, as part of a nationwide environmental competition.

After tough contest between six teams, Team ‘E Purity’ emerged the winner of the DOM Competition, a nationwide environmental innovation contest devised by Youth Vision. 

Out of the six teams that qualified for the finals, E Purity’s proposed project was deemed to be the most innovative and viable in the Sultanate. The team showcased an environmentally friendly product that was devised by using plants to replace detergents used for washing clothes.

Supported by BP Oman, the DOM Competition’s aim was to increase awareness concerning the environment in Oman, and encourage youth to create sustainable projects that address local environmental challenges.

Some of the other projects that made it to the finals in the DOM Competition include ‘Al Baleel’, which presented a 15kg portable AC cooling unit using pottery pipes, running from a rechargeable battery.

To start its cooling process, the project only required two liters of water.

Another team was ‘Bio Tank’, who successfully converted food waste into Methane, which could be used for cooking, generating electricity and heating water.

Team ‘Mubdei Oman’ used rocks to manufacture coating for reservoirs. The coating had the ability to isolate heat in order to keep water or fuel at appropriate temperatures.

Additionally, ‘Eco Floor’ offered solutions for the management of tires and plastic waste. They utilised or burned them in ways that were not harmful to the environment. ‘Al Maqahil Al Khadra’, on the other hand, renewed, reused and recycled old or broken electronic devices as part of their project.

“The DOM competition offered students a vantage point where they could see themselves as contributing members of a global community and realise their roles in terms of environmental preservation. BP believes in the importance of creating sustainable and innovative ideas to preserve our environment,” said Shamsa Al Rawahi, BP Oman Social Investment Programme Officer.

The finals were held for two days, and comprised of workshops in different subjects, such entrepreneurship, innovation and finance. An exhibition was organised for the participating projects and teams that were not selected for the competition, giving them the opportunity to showcase their projects and ideas.

There was also a discussion session around environmental innovation, its challenges and future. The ceremony also hosted entrepreneurs to share their success stories with the audience, encouraging participants to pursue similar endeavours.

“We are ecstatic to have won such a fierce competition. In the coming days, we will persevere to further develop our project and look for funding to initiate production and then launch our product into the local markets. I thank Youth Vision for providing us with such a huge opportunity as well as BP Oman for being supportive and encouraging. We as a team appreciate the duo’s keenness and efforts to preserve the environment,” said Abdulmalik Juma’ Al Himli, Leader of E Purity.

Youth Vision has been an initiative to provide youth with a platform where they can develop their personal skills, and be involved in community issues. The initiative aims to support youth in developing strategic solutions, as well as become active members of the society, by bringing awareness to the significance of voluntary social work.

Through its partnership with BP Oman, Youth Vision seeks to drive national growth by empowering Omanis and equipping them with tools and skills to work effectively.

Source: Timesofoman