CLAA: Capsule of the Duches of the Future was created by Portuguese students

Alternative to bath gel, without plastics, was born at Maia Secondary School, with the help of FEUP. Four young students want to get the idea to shampoos, softeners and creams.

An innovative project of four students from Maia Secondary School It was, among thousands of applications from around the world, the only Portuguese to receive a Scholarship from the National Geographic Society this year.

The creation of young people? Cleaa biodegradable, capsule -shaped alternative to the traditional bath gel.

CLEA consists of biodegradable and water -soluble capsules of single dose bath gel, which dissolve directly in the shower, without any plastic in equation.

Using the capsule more simply seems impossible: just take one of the ‘balls’, add water, soap and rinse as usual, but now much friendly from the environment and skin.

ISABEL OLIVEIRA, MARIA TOGA, VASCO CARDOSO e Nuno They are between 17 and 18 years old and are the creators of the project, driven by environmental concern and aware of the production of about 120 billion bath gel packaging per year.

“There are still several small hotels packaging and pharmacies samples, and all this is more plastic than gel itself. That is, there are no sustainable solutions and alternatives, people are required to use the traditional. It was really urgent to find a solution in this area,” Isabel tells.

“There is already a Solid Bath Geland a lot of people don’t use it because they don’t like the texture. The interior of our capsules is liquid, that is, closer than customers are already used to use, ”says Nuno. biodegradable leavesalso with presence in the market, recalls the group.

The project was born from an initiative of the school that values creativity and the development of ideas in optional disciplines such as chemistry, biology and physics.

After several attempts with various materials, the chemical solution that gave rise to the future capsule was the sodium alginate – A substance extracted from seaweed already used in medicine – and the calcium chloride.

Collaboration with two researchers from the Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto (Feud) perfected the formulation and the encapsulation process.

The prototype, initially developed with brand shower gel Biodermawas chosen by his reputation in sustainable practices.

This is not the first time, however, that the Clea project is distinguished: it has already collected several distinctions in scientific contests and events and youth entrepreneurship, such as Junior Market of “The Company”, “Hands on Science”, and “Young Entrepreneurs Show”, points out the magazine.

Now, students want to register the patent and brand, and get the idea for other cosmetic products such as shampoos, softeners and creams. The strategy is to sell the capsule to brands already established in the market.