Winning Chemistry projects tackle waste management and extreme climate conditions with innovative real-world solutions and a focus on gender equity

The winners of the Elsevier Foundation Chemistry for Climate Action Challenge have been announced at the 9^th Green & Sustainable Chemistry Conference in Pune, India. The two winning projects identify innovative, concrete and scalable climate action solutions. Selected from 5 finalists, and 213 submissions across 60 countries, the award winners will each receive a USD 25,000 cash prize to tackle waste management and climate resilience of plants with a focus on gender equity.

The winners are Dr. Mokgadi Hlongwane, Lecturer and Work Integrated Learning Coordinator, Tshwane University of Technology in South Africa, and Dr. Pooja Singh, Assistant Professor, Symbiosis Centre for Waste Resource Management in India. All five finalists were invited to attend the Elsevier Green & Sustainable Chemistry conference to pitch their solutions to a jury of scientific experts

The Elsevier Foundation Chemistry for Climate Action Challenge is a collaboration between the Elsevier Foundation, a non-profit focused on inclusive research and health funded by Elsevier, and its sustainable chemistry journals team. The Challenge represents a commitment from Elsevier to uncover practical, scalable solutions to specific issues caused by climate change, in Global South communities.

Rob van Daalen, Senior Publisher for Sustainable Chemistry at Elsevier, said, “I am very happy with the winners of the 2025 Challenge” said Rob van Daalen, Senior Publisher for Sustainable Chemistry at Elsevier, adding that “The two winning projects are quite diverse in topic, but they have in common that they can potentially have an enormous impact on local communities. We have limited ourselves to two awards, but this year the projects presented by the five finalists were so strong that we could have easily given a third, fourth and even fifth award!”

"Again, we had many applications of very high quality this year,” said Prof Dr Klaus Kümmerer Chair of the Challenge’s scientific jury and the Green & Sustainable Chemistry Conference. “This made it both hard to select the winners and a pleasure to do this and to read all these promising ideas and proposals full of dedication to contribute to sustainability. This year we had an even broader list of suggested topics, which is another remarkable feature of this year's challenge. My warmest congratulations to the winners and a big thank you to all the finalists and all the applicants."

“Our 2025 winners remind us of the critical role women play in addressing climate change. Their innovative solutions not only tackle pressing environmental issues but also the unique needs of their communities,” Ylann Schemm, Executive Director of the Elsevier Foundation said, “In short, Pooja Singh and Hlongwane Mokgadi embody the spirit of the Challenge, celebrating research at the intersection of gender equity and climate action.”

Dr. Pooja Singh’s project focuses on developing eco-friendly sanitary products using locally sourced materials, such as water hyacinth and tapioca. Water hyacinth is an invasive species in India that clogs waterways, leading to increased water pollution and ecological damage. By converting this problematic plant into biodegradable sanitary pads, Singh’s initiative addresses the urgent issue of plastic waste in menstrual hygiene products, which significantly contributes to environmental pollution. The project not only aims to create fully biodegradable alternatives but also empowers women in rural communities by involving self-help groups in the production process to foster economic independence.

Dr. Mokgadi Hlongwane's project focuses on enhancing the resilience of medicinal plants, particularly Lessertia frutescens, which is indigenous to South Africa and widely used for its medicinal properties. South Africa is home to an impressive floral diversity, with around 22,755 plant species, of which approximately 3,000 are utilized as traditional medicines. Over 27 million individuals in the country rely on these remedies for their healthcare needs, underscoring the critical role these plants play in community health and well-being. However, climate change presents substantial challenges to their growth and effectiveness. Dr Hlongwane's project aims to develop bioinoculants—beneficial bacteria that promote plant growth and resilience against climate stress—ensuring that these vital plants can thrive even in challenging conditions. This initiative not only supports local farmers but also empowers small-scale agricultural producers, particularly women and youth in rural areas.

The Challenge also supports SDG5, Gender Equality, recognizing the pivotal role that women play in combating climate change. Projects submitted to the Challenge must have integrated a gender dimension (such as addressing the role of women in adapting to climate shifts and participating in policymaking and leadership roles) into their projects.

For further information about the Elsevier Foundation Chemistry for Climate Action Challenge, visit the Elsevier Foundation website.

Notes for editors

More information about the winning and shortlisted projects and the teams behind them is available on request.

About Elsevier Foundation

The Elsevier Foundation contributes over $1.5 million a year to non-profit organizations through partnerships which incubate new approaches, highlight inequities, and catalyse change toward the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Funded by Elsevier, a global information analytics company specializing in science and health, the Elsevier Foundation is part of Elsevier’s wider corporate responsibility program. By leveraging Elsevier’s networks and unique insights in content, data and analytics, the Elsevier Foundation is able to expand its impact in gender, health, climate action and reduced inequalities. Since 2005, the Elsevier Foundation has contributed over $16 million in grants to over 100 partners in 70 countries around the world. In addition, the Elsevier Foundation offers a special fund to support disaster relief, matching employees’ donations, and volunteering to enable employees to work closely with Foundation partners and support their communities. www.elsevierfoundation.org

About Elsevier Chemistry journals

Next to the traditional chemistry journals, Elsevier publishes a Current Opinion journal in Green and Sustainable Chemistry and a series of journals in sustainable chemistry to address current global challenges: Sustainable Chemistry and Pharmacy, Sustainable Chemistry for Climate Action, Sustainable Chemistry for the Environment, and Sustainable Chemistry One World (focusing on the global South).

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