We also took our place in the STEM Discovery Campaign 2026.
From Waste to Value: Eco-Soap OUTSTEAM Project
Sustainable Transformation with OutSTE(A)M!
Our middle
school students collect waste olive oil from their community and transform it
into eco-friendly soap with expert guidance. Throughout the process, they apply
science, engineering design, mathematics, and coding skills to develop real
solutions to real environmental problems.
Turning waste into value, young minds are shaping a
sustainable future.
This project transforms environmental responsibility into hands-on STEM learning. By converting waste olive oil into eco-friendly soap, students experience real-world chemistry, engineering design, mathematics, digital creativity and civic engagement. The initiative not only reduces environmental pollution but also empowers young learners to become active sustainability ambassadors within their communities. It demonstrates how STEM education can create measurable ecological and social impact through authentic, outdoor, problem-based learning.
This project will be implemented with 50 volunteer middle school students aged 10-12. A school-wide campaign to collect used olive oil will be launched, and the used oil will be collected over a two-week period. Soap making and other activities will be completed within those two weeks. So, it will be a project-based learning-based OutSTEAM activity lasting approximately one month.
The collected oil will then be transformed into eco-friendly olive oil soap with expert guidance and family participation. Through this process, students will experience hands-on learning that connects environmental awareness with real-world STEM applications.
Students will work in structured interdisciplinary teams and prepare an action plan with teacher guidance:
Environmental Research Team – Conducts pollution research and prepares awareness presentations.
Data & Mathematics Team – Measures collected oil, calculates ratios and estimates production output.
Engineering Team – Participates in supervised soap production and mold preparation.
Design Team – Creates sustainable packaging and eco-labels.
Coding & Digital Team – Develops QR codes and a project webpage.
Media Team – Manages social media communication, press outreach and exhibition organization.
Waste cooking oil collection campaigns will continue, supporting educational and environmental sustainability. With collaborative teamwork and teacher mentorship, the project integrates science, mathematics, engineering, technology, design and civic engagement into a meaningful sustainability initiative.
https://www.scientix.eu/campaigns/sdc/sdc26
https://www.scientix.eu/campaigns/sdc/sdc26/activities/activity?id=16689