In a region where summers are growing hotter and water is becoming scarcer, one Lebanese startup is looking 4,000 years into the past to find answers, and turning them into a thriving business.  

Meet OyaWay , the first company to bring oyas, ancient clay irrigation pots, to the Lebanese and broader MENA market. The concept is elegantly simple: a porous ceramic vessel buried near a plant’s roots slowly releases water directly into the soil through osmosis, delivering exactly what the plant needs, when it needs it, with near-zero waste from evaporation or surface runoff.  

The result? Up to 70% less water used, and plants that thrive on their own, without daily attention from their owners  

70%  

water saved vs. conventional irrigation  

4,000  

years of proven irrigation history behind the oya technique  

1st  

company to market oyas in Lebanon and the region  

The Problem Worth Solving  

Watering plants and gardens sounds simple enough. But for millions of households and businesses across Lebanon and the wider MENA region, it is anything but. Between the fear of over or underwatering, the daily time commitment, and the mounting anxiety of water shortages during peak summer months, many people end up either neglecting their plants or wasting precious water in the process.  

OyaWay’s founders identified this friction and responded not by reinventing the wheel, but by reviving and updating one of humanity’s most time-tested inventions. Their clay oyas, manufactured locally, act as underground reservoirs. Buried at the root level, water slowly and consistently seep through their micropores into the surrounding soil. Plants draw moisture only when they need it, with watering taking place over 5 to 10 days on average.   

“Oyas provide both households and businesses with an easy, convenient, and hassle-free watering system that allows plants to take just the right amount of water, only when needed”.  

— Paul Samaha, Founder  

From Selection to Acceleration: OyaWay’s Journey Inside ScaleSmart  

OyaWay was selected as one of only four startups to join the third batch of ScaleSmart, Berytech’s competitive pre-investment acceleration program designed to help growth-stage companies become investment-ready.   

Since joining, OyaWay has been immersed in an intensive, structured program that spans financial modeling, marketing strategy, governance, fundraising, and product development, all tailored to the unique realities of each startup.  

December 2025
Application & Outreach  

OyaWay applied to ScaleSmart Batch 3 following Berytech’s outreach events including the Raise Smart Webinar and the Meet the Sharks event.  

January 2026  
Due Diligence & Selection  

After passing due diligence checks and ScaleSmart interviews as a Top 10 candidate, OyaWay was selected into the final cohort of four startups.  

February 2026  
Induction & Needs Assessment  

OyaWay completed its online induction with the ScaleSmart team, submitted a self-assessment, and began one-on-one needs assessment clinics with the Investment Unit.  

February – April 2026  
Workshops & Expert Clinics  

Intensive workshops in financial modeling & valuation, marketing & growth hacking, and personalized clinics in product optimization and growth strategy with external industry experts.  

May – June 2026  
Fundraising, Governance & Pitching  

Workshops and clinics in fundraising roadmap, sales strategy, governance for scaling, and now pitching, with the demo day approaching.  

What OyaWay Is Building Right Now  

Being first to market always comes with a particular challenge: you must educate your audience before you can sell to them. Very few people in Lebanon, let alone the wider MENA region, have heard of oyas, and OyaWay’s team is acutely aware of this. A significant focus of their work inside ScaleSmart is figuring out the right strategies to raise awareness and bring a genuinely unfamiliar product into the mainstream.

“What works, says Paul, founder, is word of mouth - which allowed us to secure deals with offices, restaurants, and guest houses. In the end, both businesses and households face the same watering challenges”. 

Challenges Faced, Current Focus, and ScaleSmart’s Support   

One of OyaWay’s biggest priorities upon entering ScaleSmart was gaining a thorough understanding of its finances and validating its multi-year sales projections with confidence. Today, the team is focused on raising awareness in a first-to-market category while scoping the operational needs to establish its own oya manufacturing unit. Through ScaleSmart, OyaWay is also building a solid growth strategy with concrete KPIs to measure success and strengthen its readiness for future investors.  

The Vision  

Looking ahead, OyaWay envisions sustainable growth through investor partnerships and continuous product innovation for households and businesses across the MENA region.  

On the operational side, OyaWay is also working toward establishing its own manufacturing unit, a move that would allow greater quality control, scalability, and cost efficiency as demand grows. It is an ambitious goal that the ScaleSmart program is helping them plan for methodically.  

Why This Matters Beyond the Business  

Lebanon faces one of the most acute water stress challenges in the world. As climate change intensifies summer droughts and public water infrastructure remains unreliable, solutions that drastically reduce water consumption are not just commercially interesting; they are genuinely necessary. OyaWay’s product sits at the rare intersection of ecological responsibility, cultural heritage, and practical everyday utility.  

Looking Ahead 

As ScaleSmart Batch 3 heads into its final stretch, OyaWay is preparing to take their growth further with exposure, networking, and opportunities at upcoming ScaleSmart matchmaking and investment events. But their ambition stretches beyond:   

The team aspires to use ScaleSmart’s offerings to establish OyaWay as the definitive name in sustainable irrigation across MENA, continuously innovating their product for both households and businesses, and building the kind of investor-backed foundation that turns a first-mover advantage into lasting market leadership.  

“We want to leverage ScaleSmart’s mentorship, resources and network connections to set OyaWay on the path for healthy growth through strong partnerships, and to innovate our offerings for both households and businesses in the MENA region.”  

–  OyaWay Team  

Follow OyaWay’s journey on Instagram and LinkedIn, and explore their full product range at oyaway.com.  

The post Ancient Wisdom, Modern Impact: OyaWay Brings a 4,000-Year-Old Solution to the MENA’s Water Crisis  appeared first on Berytech.

As part of the Seeds of Innovation II initiative, organized by the Agrifood Knowledge and Innovation Community (KIC) under the EU-funded Lebanon Innovate Program, and in collaboration with EBRD, a high-level panel titled ““Bridging Academia, Industry, and Policy in Agri-Food Innovation” was organized. The event brought together key players from government, academia, Business Support, and industry to explore how Lebanon can strengthen its agri-food R&D ecosystem and transform research into market-ready solutions. 

Bridging Academia, Industry, and Policy: Advancing Agri-Food Innovation in Lebanon 

Lebanon Innovate, under the Seeds of Innovation II initiative organized by the Agrifood Knowledge and Innovation Community (KIC) as part of the EU-funded Lebanon Innovate Program, recently hosted a high-level panel on “Bridging Academia, Industry, and Policy in Agri-Food Innovation”. This panel brought together governments, academics, financiers and industry leaders to explore how Lebanon can strengthen its Agri-food R&D ecosystem and and turn research into market-ready solutions.  

The panel featured Mr.s Carla Wehbe – Head of Intellectual Property at the Ministry of Economy & Trade, Mr. Jad Zgheib – Principal Manager at EBRD, Dr. Sandy Rihana – Director of the Technology Transfer Office (TTO) at USEK, and Mrs. Nathalie Kazan – General Manager at Delta Group. 

A central theme of the conversation was the importance of intellectual property as a foundation for innovation. Carla Wehbe emphasized that protection must begin at the earliest stages of research, stressing that awareness and guidance are essential for both academia and the private sector. The ministry has launched training programs for schools and universities and is supporting the development of IP-focused educational programs, while also leveraging international frameworks to safeguard Lebanese innovations. For Mrs. Wehbe, embedding IP protection into the innovation process ensures that ideas have the time and space to develop into viable products.  

From the academic perspective, Dr. Sandy Rihana explained how USEK’s TTO bridges research and market application by supporting inventors throughout the innovation journey. The office offers market studies, technical assessments and legal guidance. By connecting researchers with BSOs, industry partners and advisors, the TTO ensures innovations respond to real market needs. Dr. Rihana highlighted key areas in agrifood innovation, such as automation, smart farming and waste valorization, demonstrating how research can adapt to create solutions that are both technically and commercially viable.   

Representing the financial and developmental perspective, Jad Zgheib shared the role of structured support programs in fostering collaboration between universities and companies. By offering financial and technical guidance, these programs help innovators move from research to practical application. Mr. Zgheib noted that while companies may approach innovation cautiously, the agri-food sector is showing a strong willingness to experiment, especially when supported by expertise and resources that link research to market needs.   

Bringing the industry perspective, Mrs. Nathalie Kazan outlined Delta Group’s journey in transforming research into market-ready products. With targeted support from EBRD, the company collaborated with researchers to develop a range of Mediterranean food mixes under the “Makadear” sub-brand. Combining R&D, branding, packaging, marketing, Delta Group demonstrated how practical collaboration across disciplines can turn ideas into products that meet consumer needs. Mrs. Kazan emphasized that successful innovation requires both academic insight and practical expertise, highlighting the value of multi-disciplinary teamwork and access to market-oriented resources.  

Panelists concluded by identifying priorities to accelerate agri-food innovation in Lebanon: 

• Establishing shared platforms for collaboration 

• Strengthening IP protection and literacy 

• Creating dedicated support mechanisms for SMEs 

• Promoting mentorship opportunities from larger companies to smaller innovators. 

The discussion highlighted that Lebanon’s agri-food innovation potential lies in integrating research, industry, and policy into a cohesive ecosystem. By institutionalizing TTOs, promoting IP awareness, and providing the necessary technical and financial support, Lebanon can transform fragmented initiatives into a connected, resilient, and sustainable ecosystem. 

The post Bridging the Gap: From Research to Market in Agri-Food Innovation  appeared first on Berytech.

This report covers the valuable insights and actionable recommendations from the InnovNation Conference 2025, where experts and leaders from academia, industry, and government gathered to discuss how to build a robust innovation ecosystem in Lebanon.

The conference was organized under the Lebanon Innovate program, funded by the European Union, and supported by the Agrytech and Cleantech accelerators, funded by the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Among the key contributors was Suhair Nadde, an international expert with over 20 years of experience in intellectual property (IP) and international trade law. Suhair has played a pivotal role in shaping IP policy and strategy across the MENA region, Europe, and Africa, focusing on institutional strengthening, capacity building, and reforming IP frameworks. Her expertise, along with that of other thought leaders has been instrumental in driving the conversation forward on how Lebanon can enhance its innovation landscape.

Rather than simply summarizing the event, this report serves as a practical guide for institutions and organizations seeking to advance Lebanon’s innovation agenda. It presents a clear framework for fostering collaboration, improving IP regulatory frameworks, and taking decisive action to accelerate the country’s transformation into an innovation-driven economy.

The post A Roadmap for Innovation: Key Insights and Strategic Directions from the InnovNation Conference 2025 appeared first on Berytech.

Innovation is often seen as a linear process, going from research to application and implementation. However, the real approach strongly relies on the existence of linkages, and that is where clusters take centerstage: Business clusters are more than just groups of companies; they are dynamic communities where businesses, suppliers, and entities from different backgrounds come together to share knowledge, collaborate, and grow. 

Being part of a cluster can make a world of difference for your team. Here’s why: 

1. Access to specialized resources  

Joining a business cluster entails accessing a diverse group of innovators, researchers, suppliers, service-providers, and even facilities within a defined geographical area. These linkages, as well as the established spirit of collaboration and support, allow each individual business to immensely benefit from materialistic and intellectual resources, facilitating faster growth and development.  

2. Increased visibility and credibility 

Being a part of a business cluster isn’t just about fitting in – it’s about standing out. A well-known, well-established group of businesses can elevate your company’s reputation, making you more attractive to customers, investors, and partners. This is especially true when it comes to regional and international certifications. A certified cluster can further enhance your credibility, making it a strategic way to build trust and open up new opportunities for advancement and success. 

3. Advocacy for policy changes within your industry 

Clusters often act as the collective voice of an industry, advocating for policies that benefit all actors of the chain. By joining a cluster, your startup could play a role in shaping the rules and regulations that affect the business. 

4. Access to new markets and innovation opportunities 

Clusters provide businesses with access to new markets and export opportunities by fostering international collaborations through exhibitions and funding programs. They seek to establish in-house incubators or technology centers, bridging research with industry challenges to drive innovation. Additionally, clusters offer access to advanced technology and sustainable practices, helping businesses meet the standards of competitive markets like those in the EU. 

About Euromed Clusters Forward 

Euromed Clusters Forward is a pioneering initiative aimed at enhancing the Euromed region’s cluster ecosystems by improving regulatory frameworks, boosting strategic planning, and fostering alliances among EU and Southern Mediterranean clusters. Funded by the European Union and coordinated by Anima, this 4-year project promotes inclusive innovation, enhances sustainable growth, drives economic diversification and boosts employment in the Euromed region.  

The post 4 Reasons Why Your Business Should Join a Cluster  appeared first on Berytech.

Although paper products are indeed easier to recycle, however, that may not necessarily be the case with the tetra packs and paper coffee cups that are used in the F&B industry.  Tetra packs generally comprise 14% plastic sheets, 5% aluminum, 6% from a biodegradable bio-plastic cap, and 75% cardboard. On the other hand, the majority of paper coffee cups are made of 90 to 95% paper and 5% of a thin plastic coating of polyethylene, a petroleum-based product that allows the cups to be water-proof and able to hold in the liquid.  The plastic sheet and coating material is difficult to separate from the paper, making it challenging to recycle these items.

Advantages and disadvantages of using tetra packs and paper coffee cups.

Using tetra packs to package liquid components such as juices, milk, and liquid tomatoes is common in the food and beverage industry. These six-layer composite packages, made of paper, aluminum, and plastic, provide efficient protection against contamination, air, and light, thereby extending the shelf life of the products. Additionally, their shape facilitates easy packing, transportation, and storage. Moreover, tetra packs are relatively cost-effective compared to other packaging options. The recyclability label on tetra packs enhances their appeal to environmentally conscious consumers.

When it comes to disposable coffee cups, the industry trend leans towards using paper cups instead of plastic or Styrofoam. This choice allows coffee shops to position themselves as proactive stakeholders in environmental protection and climate change mitigation.

However, some environmentalists question the “green” claims surrounding tetra packs and paper coffee cups. The poly aluminum mixture found in tetra packs cannot be separated, and thus can only be “down-cycled” into landfill-bound products like plastic pens and car mats. In the absence of proper recycling processes for these components, the plastic-aluminum material is often discarded into landfills. Only the cardboard portion of tetra packs can be recycled to create paper products.

As for paper coffee cups, despite being predominantly made of paper, they often end up in landfills due to various reasons. The quality of the paper combined with inner linings of wax or plastic makes recycling challenging. Furthermore, inadequate rinsing of the cups leads to contamination, rendering them unrecyclable. Dark-colored plastic coffee lids, typically indicating low-quality plastic nearing the end of its life cycle, contribute to waste. Coffee sleeves, if made entirely of paper, are the only components of coffee cups that can be truly recycled.

How the generated waste is being handled in Lebanon.

The presence of a plastic lining within tetra packs and paper coffee cups, combined with the limited availability of specialized recycling facilities in Lebanon that can effectively separate the plastic materials, poses a challenge to the recycling process.

According to a 2020 report published by ACTED, Lebanon produces a significant amount of tetra packs, totaling 140 tons per month. Unfortunately, a considerable portion of this waste is not currently recycled and ends up in landfills. While some may argue that the predominantly paper composition of tetra packs and paper coffee cups makes them less harmful to the environment, it is important to note that this waste can still undergo chemical reactions with other waste materials, resulting in the release of harmful gases into the air and contamination of the soil, polluting the land and beaches.

Value in recycling tetra packs and coffee cups

The challenge of processing waste from tetra packs and paper coffee cups should not discourage recycling efforts. These products have a relatively short life cycle and become useless once the food and beverages they contain are consumed. Moreover, considering the significant use of natural resources in their manufacturing, it is important not to waste these resources.

Recycling the paper elements and downcycling the poly aluminum components found in these products holds great value. The paper can be recycled into various new products such as writing paper and tissues, reducing the need for imports of these goods into Lebanon. Additionally, recycled paper can be used to create environmentally friendly building materials like non-load bearing masonry blocks, space dividers, thermal and sound insulators, and ceiling panels. PulP, an alumnus of the DAWERR Activity funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), is a Lebanese initiative that has recognized this value and found an innovative way to partially replace cement in building blocks with recycled materials from tetra packs and paper coffee cups. “We need to invest our resources to create a better tomorrow, not only for our generation but also for our future generations,” said Hala El Balaa, Founder of PulP. She emphasized, “By using tetra packs and paper coffee cups to replace some of the cement in masonry blocks, we contribute to the reduction of CO2 emissions generated during cement production.”

The poly aluminum components found in these products can be down-cycled into single-use items such as pens, car floor mats, and flooring materials. Although these items are also single use, by repurposing them, the unavoidable waste generated from tetra packs and coffee cups can be diverted towards useful applications, preventing them from ending up in landfills and polluting the environment.

There is tremendous value in recycling materials, such as tetra packs and coffee cups. These items are often overlooked, but they can be recycled and used to create new products.

Recommendations for recycling tetra packs and coffee cups

Recycling facilities in Lebanon should take proactive measures to encourage and raise awareness about the inclusion of tetra packs and paper coffee cups in their recyclables. Guglielmo Mazzà, CEO & Co-Founder of ReFuse, a local recycling startup, stated, “Tetra packs and paper coffee cups are part of the materials we accept at our recyclables collection points in Naba’a, Hamra, Bourj Hammoud. People can receive a minimal cash reward for dropping them; however, we still don’t collect more than 100kg per month.”

As more local companies, including Balkis, LibanLait, and Dairy Khoury, adopt tetra packs for packaging their products, it becomes crucial to raise awareness not only among the general population in Lebanon but also within waste management facilities. It is important to educate people about the significance of recycling this waste and the proper methods of disposal. Simply dropping these items off at recycling facilities that accept such products is insufficient. They need to be properly rinsed to avoid contamination and rotting of the tetra packs and paper coffee cups themselves.  So next time you use a tetra pack or coffee cup, remember the value of recycling them and make sure to dispose of them properly.

By recycling tetra packs and coffee cups, we can reduce our impact on the environment and create a more sustainable future.

About DAWERR

DAWERR: Diverting Waste By Encouraging Reuse And Recycling is a five-year activity funded by the United Stated Agency for International Development (USAID) that aims to improve the social, environmental, and economic well-being of Lebanese citizens by establishing sustainable solid waste recovery and diversion programs in collaboration with municipalities throughout rural areas in Lebanon.

DAWERR is implemented by ECODIT in partnership with Berytech, Compost Baladi, and ECODIT Liban.

The post Tetra packs and paper coffee cups: The hidden value in the eco-friendly packaging products in the F&B industry appeared first on Berytech.

Textile Waste

To keep up with the growing appetite for ‘fashionable clothes’, clothing items are being mass-produced. This is when the pre-consumer textile waste is spawned. During manufacturing, waste is generated from spinning, weaving, knitting, cutting, dying, and finishing. Once the production of the clothes is finalized, all the discarded scraps and materials are turned into waste. Consequently, the energy and resources used to produce these scraps and materials are also wasted.

On the other hand, post-consumer textile waste is generated when the lifespan of the clothing article has reached its end. Clothes or fabrics that are worn out, ill-fitting, damaged, or outgrown are discarded in an environmentally hazardous manner, contributing to overall pollution levels.

Annually, discarded clothes, textiles, and footwear contribute to approximately 5-6% of the solid waste generated in Lebanon, impacting the environment, and leading to water pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and piling landfills.

Environmental Impacts of Textile Waste

It is estimated that 20% of global wastewater comes from the fashion industry worldwide. This is because textile manufacturers require a significant amount of water to produce their items. Producing a single t-shirt, for example, requires 2,700 liters of water, which is equivalent to the amount of water that is consumed by an average person over 2.5 years. Moreover, the wastewater generated from the production process contains many chemicals that normally end up in oceans and seas; thus, polluting the water around these manufacturing warehouses and affecting the marine life in them.

According to a working paper published by the International Labor Organization, the textile industry is responsible also for 6-8% of global greenhouse gas emissions. This is due to the energy that is needed to produce fabrics such as coal and natural gas. However, greenhouse gas emissions continue even post-production throughout the supply chain in the transportation of these materials to their end destinations through air and freight.  

When the lifespan of clothes or fabrics comes to an end, the majority ends up in landfills. This is especially dangerous since they turn into a hub for hosting microbes. In addition, because of the plastic that is found in these materials, this waste can take over 200 years to decompose during which greenhouse methane gas and toxic chemicals and dyes are released into the ground and soil; thus, contaminating the land.

Addressing Textile Waste

It is quite evident that textile waste poses a threat to the environment, and this is why it is crucial to address this issue from the onset. In the pre-consumer phase, manufacturers need to deconstruct and recombine the generated waste to be able to use them in different ways. By doing so, not only will they be able to reduce their costs since it will maximize the usage of their inventory, but they will also reduce the amount of textile waste that is generated.

Individuals can adopt several ways to reduce their textile waste on the post-consumer side. This can be done by increasing the number of times they wear their clothes until they are completely worn out instead of only wearing them a handful of times. Another method of reducing waste would be repairing the clothes they already possess should tear and wear occur or simply using them for other purposes such as creating rags for cleaning. As a result, these items end up serving another purpose instead of ending up in landfills.

To annihilate buying new clothes is somewhat unattainable. Being mindful of the garments purchased is a big step towards protecting the environment. This can be done by adopting the mindset of mainly buying good quality clothes that are made of eco-friendly materials that can last long periods. Many production warehouses nowadays are adopting and promoting the use of these sustainable materials that are not only fashionable but also help preserve the environment. Another way would be to buy used clothes from second-hand stores, a concept that is on the rise in Lebanon.

If it is imperative to discard specific items, individuals should consider donating them to either family members or entities such as FabricAid or Banin who give them a second life. “The clothes that we collect that are of good quality, are sold to the marginalized communities in Lebanon at extremely reduced prices; whereas, the materials that cannot be sold in their original formats are turned into other products such as bags in their different formats, pillows, and other types of corporate gifts that are in turn exported outside of Lebanon,” said Omar Itani, Founder of FabricAid. Other options also include renting out clothes or selling them online; thus, generating income while protecting the environment.

Another initiative devised an innovative way to address the textile-waste problem in Lebanon. Reborn, founded by Zeina Farah, is a sustainable manufacturing facility that buys garments from its customers and turns them into women’s sportswear. “We have succeeded in reducing the number of textile shreds that are generated from our production; however, we still had to deal with the inevitable waste generated from this production that normally ends up in landfills to achieve a zero-waste process,” said Farah. 

Because Farah and her team come from an engineering background, they have succeeded in launching another promising startup, RBNTech, an alumnus of the DAWERR Activity funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). RBNTech turns the generated textile waste into insulation materials that are used in construction. By doing so, they are eliminating textile waste and contributing to reducing the carbon footprint resulting from heating and cooling housing units. They are also contributing to saving virgin resources from being used in the production of these insulation materials since they are replacing them with recycled raw materials.

There is great value in recycling textile waste. “More importance should be given to slow fashion by creating good quality clothes that last longer,” says Rita Mouccarri, Head of Production at Craze Station, an apparel factory based in China.  “All the waste that is generated from our factory is given to the government for recycling where the materials are deconstructed to create more raw materials that can be reused for the production of clothes,” she concludes.

Social and Economic Impact

By recycling and upcycling clothes, the number of textile waste that ends up in landfills is reduced, diminishing the elements that contribute to climate change. They also contribute to lowering the monetary cost and environmental impact of producing new raw materials. In addition to the impact that recycling has on the environment, there is also a great social and economic impact since the different types of textile waste that are no longer of use can be shredded and turned into felt, which in turn can be used to produce different products such as blankets for refugees, different types of accessories and bags, as well as insulation materials for construction.

About DAWERR

DAWERR: Diverting Waste By Encouraging Reuse And Recycling is a five-year activity funded by the United Stated Agency for International Development (USAID) that aims to improve the social, environmental, and economic well-being of Lebanese citizens by establishing sustainable solid waste recovery and diversion programs in collaboration with municipalities throughout rural areas in Lebanon.

DAWERR is implemented by ECODIT in partnership with Berytech, Compost Baladi, and ECODIT Liban.

The post From Fashion to Landfill: How to Break the Chain appeared first on Berytech.

Although some of the EEE such as televisions and refrigerators have a relatively long shelf life, others have shorter lifetimes due to damage or lack of usability. Some people discard these items, creating e-waste, but others may choose to repair, store, or donate them to extend their lifespan.

The State of E-waste in Lebanon

A report conducted by UNDP in partnership with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research and the Ministry of Environment indicates that in 2021, 63Kiloton of EEE was placed on the market in Lebanon, bringing the overall total of EEE to 659Kiloton across all households and businesses. During the same year, 46Kiloton of e-waste was discarded, and only 0.196% (0.09Kiloton) were reported to be recycled in an environmentally sound manner. The remaining 45.91Kiloton of e-waste ended up in either landfills or collected by the informal sector. 

Despite the fact that the dangers of e-waste are quite known when it comes to the environment, it is crucial to address the presence of e-plastic within it which poses a threat not only to the environment and its sustainability but also to people’s lives in general. 

E-plastic contains Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs), highly toxic components, that function as flame retardants. The quantities and toxicological profiles of the flame retardants present in e-plastics are currently unknown, which is why they continue to pose a risk to human health. In addition to the PBDE, e-plastics may include Polyamides (PA), Polycarbonate (PC), and Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), among many others. These different polymer blends are usually hard to separate and therefore become highly challenging to recycle through conventional means. 

E-plastic Waste Treatment

Treating e-plastic waste is done by separating and neutralizing the Bromite that is found in them in a green manner. Currently, only one organization in Lebanon is working on addressing this issue; EPlastR, an alumnus of the DAWERR Activity funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

EPlastR team has created a process through which they can remove the toxic chemicals present in them and extract the purest form of polymers from the complex plastic blends. “Recycling e-plastic waste is extremely challenging, not only in Lebanon but also in the region because we lack the proper incinerators that handle highly toxic chemical products,” said Gaby Kassab, co-founder of EplastR. 

The absence of specialized incinerators is one of many challenges facing the treatment of e-waste in Lebanon. What is crucial to consider is that e-waste in general and e-plastic waste, in particular, are subject to different behavioral traits locally. According to the aforementioned report, 65% of individuals choose to repair their EEEs once they are no longer functioning properly while the remaining 35% opt to donate them, store them at home, discard them with the regular unsorted waste, take them to collection points, sell them or exchange them.

The common handling of e-waste has significant repercussions on the environment and human health especially in the case of e-plastic waste which makes up a significant portion of e-waste. Many people choose to store their e-waste inside their homes, constituting a significant health hazard due to the toxic and odorless gases it generates, resulting in serious health conditions over time. Alternatively, when individuals choose to discard this waste, they either throw it out with the solid waste which in turn gets crushed releasing toxic fumes in the air, or they sell it to informal scrap collectors, the majority of whom see no value to the waste including e-plastics and do not necessarily adhere to environmental safety measures in discarding them. The waste either ends up in the forests, sea, and landfills, polluting the water and soil, or burned, polluting the air. 

Furthermore, proper measures are not taken into consideration in the handling and the transportation of e-waste in general from its source to its final destination. It is critical to separate this waste from other waste types such as organic waste and to keep it dry from liquids such as oil or rainwater. This leads to the decomposition of the e-waste and the plastic that is present in them (e-plastic), where by the time it reaches the designated warehouses, it loses its value and can no longer be recycled. 

Although there are laws in place regarding the management and recycling of e-waste in Lebanon, the Ministry of Environment and municipalities are unable to effectively address this environmental crisis due to a lack of resources and capacity for enforcement. To this date, there is a lack of accountability for the use of improper and hazardous methods for handling this waste “We are facing a major governance problem in Lebanon”, said Samar Khalil, Environmental & Chemical Safety Officer at the American University of Beirut. “We lack the proper infrastructure that allows the sorting of e-waste at source and properly transporting them to their end destination,” she continues. 

Solar Panels Recycling

With a life span of 30 to 35 years and a return on investment of 5-10 years, solar panels have become a trend for Lebanese households and businesses that want to avoid excessive electricity outages. With large amounts being installed, some concerns regarding proper treatment of e-waste generated from batteries or the panel itself once completely used or damaged due to storms, stray bullets or other. For that, a common practice is to dismantle the structure to recycle metals, plastics and other elements like silicon and electronics. For batteries, (if included in the system), the common and existing practices in Lebanon go as follows:

• Lead acid batteries that are completely dead get recycled,
• Lithium batteries are sent off to centers to make sure they are completely discharged, then stored properly before shipping them to Genoa Italy (no current solutions for recycling them locally).

Value in E-plastic Waste

The recycling of e-plastics is done through separating the plastic components that are found in e-waste and through proper environmentally sound manner, decomposing its different elements to turn them into new raw materials that can be used in the creating of other products.

There is a great deal of value in recycling e-plastic waste. On the social level, properly handling this waste will significantly reduce the perilous impact on the environment and human health by diminishing the amount of toxic chemicals released into the air, water, and soil. On the economic level, e-waste, in general, is considered one of the considerable contributors to the circular economy. Recycling its plastic results in the production of high-grade virgin plastic that is used in producing plastic derivatives such as 3D printing filaments. Not only can these green plastic products replace the imports that are necessary to serve the Lebanese market, but they can also be exported to the region where the plastic industry is estimated at $2.3B. The production of plastic materials can contribute to job creation on the industrial and commercial levels. 

E-waste embodies a danger to the environment and human health but eliminating them in this day and age, would be nearly impossible. This is why certain measures need to be taken to extend their lifespan and to ensure their handling in an environmentally sound manner, to protect human health. 

Legislation should be put in place to mandate importers of EEE to take back their products for either recycling or repairing purposes when they reach the end of their lifespan to be recycled or repaired; allowing them to be used for new products or to repair old ones. The government should also require local manufacturers to make products with a lifespan of at least 10-15 years and have spare parts available for repair for the same duration. Moreover, import restrictions need to be put in place to prevent the entry of old products that contain hazardous materials into the country. 

The Ministry of Environment and the municipalities need to be provided with the right resources to effectively enforce and regulate the proper handling and treatment of e-waste. The informal sector and solid waste companies need to be mandated and held accountable for the way they handle e-waste. They also need to be provided with clear guidelines on how to properly sort and transport it to ensure that its value remains intact. 

A Collaborative Effort

The responsibility of e-waste does not solely lay upon the government. Consumers need to play an active role as well in understanding the dangers of storing and discarding e-waste in an unsound manner. They also need to be made aware of the importance of recycling e-waste and e-plastics, the dangers it poses to the environment, and the value it creates for the Lebanese economy. This is why it is critical for individuals to either recycle their EEEs properly by dropping them off at the designated drop-off centers or to refurbish them to extend their lifespans. 

About DAWERR

DAWERR: Diverting Waste By Encouraging Reuse And Recycling is a five-year activity funded by the United Stated Agency for International Development (USAID) that aims to improve the social, environmental, and economic well-being of Lebanese citizens by establishing sustainable solid waste recovery and diversion programs in collaboration with municipalities throughout rural areas in Lebanon.

DAWERR is implemented by ECODIT in partnership with Berytech, Compost Baladi, and ECODIT Liban.

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A growing trend in addressing social, economic, and environmental challenges is the “nexus” perspective, which recognizes the interdependencies between different sectors. Given the intricate linkages between water, energy, and solid waste, the groups adopted a holistic approach that is necessary to ensure global water, energy, and food security, as well as sustainable agriculture and energy production.

Current Challenges & Assessment Process

The current enabling environment for the cleantech sector in Lebanon is largely absent, with various stakeholders operating independently rather than collaborating. Despite the clear benefits of collaboration, actors often work in isolation. Enhancing the enabling environment from a sector-wide perspective can be achieved through the establishment of policy lobbying and business development platforms that facilitate collective work, expertise exchange, and know-how sharing.

A dedicated team comprising Nadim Farajalla, Marc Ayoub, Hadil Bourgi, Rana El Hajj, Nisrine El Hougeiri, Georges Gharios, Maya Mhanna, and Celine Yazbek worked diligently for almost a year to assess the enabling environment for innovation in the Energy, Water, Solid Waste, and WEF Nexus sectors. These assessments aimed to strengthen business advancement and job creation in the Agri-food and Cleantech sectors within Lebanon.

Findings and Reports

The team visualized their findings and results into four comprehensive infographics and reports, which are presented below:

Water Sector

This report illustrates the water sector’s value chain, the number of employees in water-related companies compared to other Cleantech sectors, key stakeholders, and innovative companies. Additionally, it proposes solutions to foster an enabling environment for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) operating in the water sector.

Read full report here.

Solid Waste Sector

The accompanying infographic and report outline the evolution of municipal solid waste management practices in Lebanon, including waste quantities and composition. It also provides an analysis of the sector’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.

Read full report here.

Energy Sector

This report maps the distribution of Energy SMEs across Lebanon, highlighting their areas of activity and business types. It encompasses various aspects of clean energy, energy efficiency, and energy storage while offering recommended low-cost actions for improvement.

Read full report here.

WEF Nexus Sector

The report presents key components of the Cleantech industry and identifies the specific innovation drivers within the sector. It also compares Lebanon’s business indicators with other countries in the MENA region.

Read full report here.

ACT Smart Innovation Hub in brief

The ACT (Agrifood Clean Tech) Smart Innovation Hub takes a sector-wide approach for economic growth by stimulating innovators and entrepreneurs to put their creativity and energy at the service of the agrifood and cleantech sectors, encouraging them to develop local solutions to the challenges faced by Lebanon and the globe.

Berytech launched The ACT Smart Innovation Hub initiative in 2019, with funding from the Kingdom of The Netherlands, following the very successful two-year Agrytech Program.

In 2022, the initiative was upgraded and renewed for four years with the aim of maximizing its impact in growing and scaling innovative startups, supporting the Lebanese entrepreneurial ecosystem and working towards economic recovery.

The post Enabling an Innovative Cleantech Environment: Insights on Water, Solid Waste, Energy, and WEF Nexus appeared first on Berytech.

The fuel crisis and the rise of fuel costs in foreign currency also impacted agriculture and agrifood value chain actors at various levels. Machinery operations in field crops ceased or reduced drastically, and fuel cost has restrained new production planning. Factories shut down around the country for lack of energy to operate. Transportation costs have increased drastically, and in several cases, transportation of products was suspended or postponed for deficiency of fuel, leading to extreme losses in fresh products. Refrigerated transportation and storage is yet another primary sub-sector that is highly crucial for product quality, trade, and human health, which was harshly affected. Cold storages across the country are already low in number and space than the actual needs, and only part of them could perform in 2021, leading to a large proportion of production going to waste. Fuel shortage also affected water pumping as most wells and springs depend on fuel-based generators. 

Local bodies and organizations raised concerns about the high threat this posed on the continuity of the agrifood sector, the livelihoods of farmers and producers, and the already fragile food security of the country that has quickly fallen into poverty. 

Energy Efficiency in the Agrifood Sector

Reducing the cost of energy and searching for alternatives are indispensable to any attempt to save the agrifood sector. 

Changes in energy efficiency are often challenging to demonstrate because they rely on the technical implementation of the energy used, the volume of energy transformations, climate conditions (heating and cooling requirements), and the design of each economic sector that uses energy.

Yet, water, energy, and food security are interconnected and directly affect human health and well-being.

Energy use in agriculture varies across agricultural procedures by crop or livestock sort, size of operation, and geographic location. Energy use changes over time, counting on weather conditions, fuel price changes, and total annual crop and livestock production changes. Direct energy, primarily refined petroleum derivatives, is used on farms for planting and harvesting, fertilizer and pesticide application, and transportation. Land preparation, tillage, post-harvest storage of harvested crops, and pre-processing activities (e.g., drying) requires natural energy. As energy prices continue to rise, especially during an era of unstable international politics, farmers must decrease electricity and fossil fuel use on the farm to lower production costs. 

Programme Policy Officer at World Food Programme, Jawad Bou Ghanem, states that a considerable percentage of agrifood production cost is the cost of energy. Bou Ghanem observes that our only solution today is to go for renewable energy, adding that “we will be targeting two goals, first decreasing the production cost, which helps the producer to enter the market again with challenging prices, and on the other side, we will be supporting nature by decreasing the amount of fossil fuel usage and, by that, reducing the amount of carbon in the air.” Bou Ghanem adds that the producer needs help to handle the high cost of fossil fuel, especially since the energy cost is in fresh US dollars.

Alternatively, the cost of electricity from solar PV and wind decreased by 82 percent and 40 percent, respectively, between 2010 and 2019. (IRENA 2020).

The Shift to Renewable Energy

A lack of cold storage structures in developing countries makes rural residents more vulnerable to climate shocks and results in higher incidences of food losses. Saad Macaron, Business Development Manager of Green Essence, a leading company that supplies innovative renewable energy solutions, explains that in a night, and due to severe energy outrage, the company shifted from searching for renewable energy consumers to suddenly attracting the majority. He explains that the transition to renewable energy happened suddenly without strategic planning, whereas in developed countries, nationwide strategies and regulations are set by the government. The abrupt transition process could have been smoother, yet Green Essence had to adapt. The company aims to provide solutions that help institutions decrease the cost of energy consumption through renewable energy. Inside his own company, Macaron switched to high-efficiency lamps, used a heat pump rather than burning diesel, and even changed the cars into electrical ones that charge through the company’s solar units. “Our energy bill inside the company is zero dollars,” he adds. Macaron explains that the company stopped paying electricity bills for too long and uses that example to show the customers that reaching this energy cost reduction is achievable.

The Energy Costs of Agrifood Production 

Climate change effects are intense and will strengthen in the decades ahead. These effects will have direct and indirect consequences for agrifood systems worldwide. Ecosystem-based adaptation provides some optimism but will require much attention to the enabling requirements for adaptation action and the social-ecological context. Implementing and scaling up diverse on-farm options is crucial, and it is essential to foster an enabling environment. Planning for this process requires policy and institutional change, intersectoral action, coordination across levels, mobilizing youth, empowering stakeholders through community-based approaches and capacity building, advancing climate information and extension services, and implementing social protection schemes. Only coordinated and ambitious action on many fronts will bring the needed transformation that has to happen in agrifood systems.

Transforming food systems and improving food security depends on the more general use of current forms of energy in agrifood systems. However, the unfettered use of fossil fuels to meet growing energy needs for electricity, heating, cooling, and transport in the agrifood sector is not an option for several reasons. First, food prices are vulnerable to sudden changes in fossil fuel supply and price. With the growing energy intensity of agriculture, rising energy prices translate into higher production, processing, and transport costs, which could mean higher costs for consumers. 

When thinking about food, people don’t usually consider the energy it takes to produce it. Agri-production and agriculture require about 30% of the world’s energy production – primarily fossil fuels, according to IRENA. The same source indicates that the total greenhouse gas emissions from agrifood systems and energy compose about a third. The stakes are high in transitioning agrifood systems to renewable energy, but shall the producers go for a decentralized solution, or should this matter be decoded on a governmental level?

The Food System Challenge

The Food System Challenge is implemented by the World Food Programme (WFP) and Berytech through support from the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

The program’s main outcomes are enhanced food security, a well-functioning local food system, enhanced efficiency and resilience of cooperatives and SMEs working across different streams of the food systems, and increased employment opportunities, especially for women and vulnerable individuals.

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The oregano variety used in Lebanon’s traditional Zaatar mix is called Origanum Syriacum, a wild shrub that grows in the mountains of Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria. It’s the preferred variety to top the Manoushe because, when baked, the leaves release their oils and aromas for the distinguished, much sought-after Zaatar flavor.  

Conventionally, our ancestors foraged the herb in the wild before the practice of planting it became increasingly common in the last 30 years. The Lebanese zaatar mix is made from the flower of the oregano plant and its leaves, dried and crushed then mixed with sumac, sesame, and salt, the quantity of each remains debatable for every region and home. 

Premium and Low-grade Zaatar

Yet, no Zaatar is born equal. Premium Zaatar has earned its name from being created in the same traditional fashion our ancestors practiced: wait till the Origanum plant is in full bloom, and handpick the leaves, a labor-intensive task with a limited yield. From there the quality of mixes available in the market go down to have almost no oregano in them. A low-grade Zaatar mix will include 10 to 40% of different oregano varieties while the rest is made of fillers such as bran, dried lettuce, sesame hulls, stems, died sawdust instead of sumac, flavored with citric acid. 

Fady Aziz, Founder of the Good Thymes, affirms that this has put him on a mission to create a readily-available, price-accessible product made from real thyme to counter the forged mixes in the market through a project that he is working to implement with the Food System Challenge Program. The Good Thymes originally sells premium Zaatar that Fady plants in the Kfarhoune mountains, South of Lebanon, and produces in the same laborious method as his grandparents. The project started as a form of escape for Fady from his desk job, quickly evolving into a fast-growing startup with selling points around the world. 

“We work to innovate products around Zaatar using readily available raw ingredients. Sourcing locally allows us to support micro-businesses and prove that we can create many products with raw materials coming from our land as an alternative to condiments and seasonings that are imported,” explains Fady. From the traditional zaatar mix, he’s created a range of innovative mixes, and then grew his lines to include flavored salt, herbal infusions, liquid soap, spirits, and chili sauce, all based on zaatar.”

The potential of Lebanon’s wild herbs 

With the success of innovative projects like the Good Thymes, the number of farmers working in thyme has been on the rise, but also as a result of the economic crisis that has threatened the country’s food security and left its people scrambling for sources of income. 

Fady sees the surge in Zaatar production as a response to the rise in international demand, he additionally notes that farmers fail to identify market gaps in high-revenue products such as sumac for example, a spice also native to the Lebanese mountains, and essential in any zaatar mix. “In that respect, they lack proper guidance but also prefer quick gain as sumac requires a longer time investment.”

The wild plants and herbs of Lebanon are also a valuable commodity for a rapidly growing market: essential oils. Cedarwood, lavender, rosemary, wild mint, peppermint, sage, and thyme are some of the plants that are used as raw materials for the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries. “The challenge,” explains Fady, “is that these industries are highly regulated, while local production does not follow export standards, let alone, correct extraction methods leaving a potentially dangerous product in the local market.” Fady is working with experts on developing the process to create a high-grade consumable oil from the Origanum Syriacum. 

Tackling Export Markets 

The lack of information and regulation stands between Lebanese farmers and achieving their best export potential. Information is not easy to find or not available for export standards and regulations for zaatar and spices. “All the work that has been done is based on personal initiatives and personal effort with no real planning or vision set at a country level. Because of the of lack regulation on what is being produced and exported, we are gaining a bad reputation in multiple countries. One incident can blacklist the whole production of a country,” details Fady as his export activities started shortly before the pandemic and gained momentum in the last three years. His products are available in Europe, the US, the UK, and the GCC. 

The large Lebanese base around the world helps promote Lebanese zaatar and how it is consumed, although each culture has adapted it to its own cuisine. Zaatar has gained momentum as a vegan product and people are more curious about using it. “We look for buyers who understand the value of fine food or delicatessen food because we have positioned our brand in this category. We are always looking for fine food or delicatessen food distributors that have the experience of introducing the product into their communities.”

Zaatar remains one of the many ingredients in the Mediterranean pantry that deserves its place in the world markets, for its culinary uniqueness, nutritional value, propagation of culture, and also for the economic impact it has on the Lebanese producers. 

The Food System Challenge

The Food System Challenge is implemented by the World Food Programme (WFP) and Berytech through support from the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

The program’s main outcomes are enhanced food security, a well-functioning local food system, enhanced efficiency and resilience of cooperatives and SMEs working across different streams of the food systems, and increased employment opportunities, especially for women and vulnerable individuals.

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