Four ambitious high school students hailing from the Portuguese city of Maia have successfully developed an innovative concept: water-soluble and fully biodegradable capsules designed to contain shower gel. This groundbreaking idea aims to provide a viable, eco-friendly alternative to conventional plastic packaging, which currently dominates the personal care industry. The project, officially titled "Clea — Clean Choice, Clean Change," recently earned the prestigious Slingshot grant, awarded by the globally recognized National Geographic Society. This achievement is particularly noteworthy as this initiative represents the only Portuguese entry to secure this distinguished international award during the current funding cycle, highlighting the strength of local youth innovation.
The core philosophy behind the Clea concept is to offer consumers the familiar experience of a liquid personal hygiene product while simultaneously tackling the monumental issue of plastic waste generation. The scale of this problem is immense: industry estimates suggest that a staggering volume—up to 96 billion shower gel bottles—are discarded globally each year, often ending up in landfills or polluting oceans. The genesis of this environmentally conscious idea was rooted in a high school chemistry assignment, which specifically challenged the students to devise a practical, scalable solution for the colossal amount of plastic generated by the cosmetics sector. The dedicated student team, comprising Nuno Aroso, Isabel Oliveira, Maria Togi, and Vasco Cardoso, focused intently on creating a product that would not require consumers to drastically alter their established purchasing or usage routines, thereby maximizing the potential for widespread adoption.
Nuno Aroso, speaking on the design choice, emphasized the strategic advantage of their liquid-filled capsules. He noted that the encapsulated contents are much closer to the texture and feel that consumers are accustomed to, offering a distinct benefit compared to existing solid-format alternatives like soap bars or powdered products. This crucial positioning—combining deep environmental responsibility with the traditional cosmetic form factor—sets their development apart from many other nascent eco-solutions currently available across various consumer goods sectors. Technically, the foundation of the solution relies on the use of sodium alginate, a natural, renewable substance derived directly from marine algae, combined precisely with calcium chloride. These two components interact chemically to form the safe, durable, and completely decomposable outer shell that dissolves harmlessly upon contact with water.
To successfully transition their concept from a theoretical model to a working prototype, the student team secured crucial technical assistance and access to specialized laboratory facilities from researchers at the esteemed Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (FEUP). This academic support was instrumental in refining the chemical processes necessary for mass production. The recognition bestowed by the National Geographic Society further underscores the significant potential and global relevance of local educational and scientific initiatives within Portugal. National Geographic, an organization dedicated since its founding in 1888 to protecting the world through science, exploration, and storytelling, uses the Slingshot grant to support emerging talent. This grant, which can provide financial backing of up to 10,000 US dollars in a highly competitive global contest, is specifically designed to bolster bold, youth-led ideas focused on impactful conservation solutions and environmental sustainability efforts.
Looking ahead, the Clea team has outlined clear commercialization goals. They intend to license their proprietary encapsulation technology to established cosmetic and personal care brands, allowing for rapid market penetration without the need to build their own manufacturing infrastructure. Furthermore, they plan to broaden the Clea product line significantly. Future developments are slated to incorporate other high-volume personal care items, such as shampoos, conditioners, and moisturizing creams, all utilizing the same biodegradable capsule system. This ambitious expansion demonstrates their overarching vision of transforming a critical environmental challenge—plastic pollution—into a widespread commercial opportunity for the greater public good, proving that sustainability and consumer convenience can coexist successfully on a global scale.