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Batoul El Hakim - Lebanese, West Asia

2019 Winner | Green chemist | Lebanese

Lebanon is in the midst of an acute ongoing environmental crisis. Yet dangerous chemicals and hazardous substances contained in house-care products, dish and laundry soaps, multi-purpose cleaners, shampoo, deodorant, face-wash, makeup remover, face and hand creams - are not being carefully disposed of, due to lack of proper wastewater treatment. SAVVY ELEMENT aims to primarily design safe and green chemical solutions while reducing the use of harsh substances that contribute to greenhouse emissions and hazardous waste. Our active ingredients and materials are native to their country of origin, extracted and produced using eco-friendly, low-energy and low-water intensive techniques. Our model supports local farmers and fair-trade businesses, ultimately creating jobs. Our products are hazard free, limiting the instances of skin allergies and respiratory problems and lastly, we create workshops and open events to raise awareness about sustainability and safe consumption of eco-friendly cosmetics, cleaning agents and basic aid products including preventative immunity-boosters, and pain relievers. Today, SAVVY ELEMENT’s products are being sold at a weekly eco-market and we have received requests from eco- stores to sell our products. 

I am a green-chemist, environmentalist, yogi and advocate of everything-sustainable. Half-Iraqi, half-Lebanese, I grew up in Beirut and envision it a zero-waste, sustainable city. Having previously worked with the United Nations Development Program on research projects focused on waste-to-energy processes, biomass and biogas, as well as green- solvents, I aim to design green products and processes to reduce the production and use of hazardous substances through resource- efficient and innovative design molecules, materials and processes.

Avertissement: NOTE: Ce contenu a été mis en ligne pour le cycle 2019 du programme Jeunes champions de la Terre et n'a pas été mis à jour. Cette liste ne constitue ni une approbation ni un statut auprès du Programme des Nations unies pour l'environnement.

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