Muscat – Neeam al Harrasi, a student from the wilayat of Rustaq in the Governorate of South Batinah, has created a new type of bioplastic using natural materials available in the sultanate, such as rice water and fish scales, to make the mass production of bioplastics more affordable.

The school project in which Do’aa al Hashmi, another student, also took part, aims to develop a decomposable plastic that is of similar quality to industrial plastic and to meet the challenges arising from the ban on single-use plastics in Oman and all over the world.

As per a statement on the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) website, by using local materials, Neeam’s project would make the mass production of bioplastics more affordable. It will also save oceans from plastic pollution.

WIPO added that the first version of the bioplastic Neeam developed was too weak, but she improved it into a hard and durable material that could be used, for example, to make plastic cutlery.

Neeam said, “I made it stronger over time after doing more research and learning that oil makes plastic weaker. I then tested out the new version of the bioplastic in my school lab to make sure it works better.”

She has filed a patent for her bioplastic innovation with the Intellectual Property Department.