ENGINEERING FOR CHANGE
PROMISING PROTOTYPES
From biodegradable plastics to solar-powered agritech, multiple sustainable innovations are meeting some of the world’s toughest challenges.
Written by Rob Goodier
EACH YEAR, Engineering for Change publishes a list of a few of the prototypes we’re watching in the sector of technology for sustainable development, and this is a snapshot of four from our list.
The world’s innovators design and build so many promising products that have the potential to overcome obstacles in global development and climate change mitigation, and we can only discover a fraction of them. The technologies we listed are just a few of those recommended by our global network.
HyaPak Plastic Made from Water Hyacinth
Joseph Nguthiru has found a way to make productive use of an invasive weed that chokes waterways in Kenya. His startup, HyaPak, turns the pulp of water hyacinth into biodegradable plastics, a solution that addresses plastic pollution as well as waterway degradation.
HyaPak’s products so far include single-use plastic alternatives to wrappers, straws, cups, and plates that biodegrade in a year or less.
The company’s work has cleared more than 20 hectares of water hyacinth in Lake Naivasha and created green jobs for 45 people in riparian communities. Each plastic bag they make offsets 1.6–1.7 kilograms of carbon dioxide (CO₂). And in the next three years, Nguthiru expects to offset more than 9 million metric tons of CO₂ emissions.
That effort has attracted attention. Last year, Nguthiru was awarded the UNEP Young Champion of the Earth during the UN General Assembly. He has been named a Presidential Awardee for Best Innovator in Kenya, he is on an Africa 40 Under 40 list, and he is a Meta Top 25 Under 25 Young Climate Prize winner.
Now he is looking beyond Kenya’s borders to expand the startup.
“We are focused on growing product development and creating impact in other countries,” Nguthiru said.
A water hyacinth field. Photo: Getty
Fossil-Fuel-Free Irrigation Project
A global team of Engineering for Change fellows, SeaFreight Labs, and the International Rescue Committee is developing a low-cost renewable energy irrigation system destined for Syrian farms. Their design uses sunlight concentrated through Fresnel lenses, sand-based heat storage, and a Stirling engine to generate electricity for irrigation pumps—offering a potential lifeline for food security in Syria and beyond.
Syria is the first real-world destination for the innovation, where it can help farmers sustain their livelihoods amid conflict, fuel shortages, and climate stress. The technology can be used anywhere, however.
To finish the design and its deployment, this cross-disciplinary team of engineers is recruiting students to support the work.
Photo: SeaFreight Labs
Elzian Agro Eye Farmland Monitoring System
From a homebase in Sri Lanka, Lilan Dayananda’s startup Elzian Agro develops automation, Internet of Things, and geospatial tools that have helped 60,000 farmers produce more crops, reduce water use, and strengthen climate resilience.
One of those tools is the Elzian Agro Eye Farmland Monitoring System, an environmental sensing platform to support farmers with data on weather and soil conditions. The system monitors wind speed and direction, rainfall, solar radiation, temperature, humidity, air pressure, light levels, and key soil metrics including moisture and nutrient levels. Its pole-and-beam structure is engineered for durability to withstand strong winds and snowstorms.
The Eye is undergoing an upgrade, Dayananda told E4C. It is, however, just one of a suite of tools Elzian is developing.
"We secured grant funding from UNESCO and Nestlé to develop a demonstration site in Sri Lanka. In addition, we have developed a new Internet of Things device and successfully completed its pilot run. We are now in the process of formulating its Intellectual Property strategy," Dayananda said.
What is next for Elzian?
"Secure a patent for the newly developed soil-measuring IoT device and raise seed-level funding to manufacture the initial 1,000 units, preferably through grant opportunities, by April 2026. We are actively seeking satellite partners such as the European Space Agency to enhance the accuracy of the geo-tagging capabilities of our IoT devices. Since the showcase, we have also been successfully accelerated by the International Trade Centre and the G20 Global Land Initiative," Dayananda said.
A technician inspecting pellets made of biodegradable materials. Photo: Getty
Solid-State Heat Pumps Using Magnetocaloric Materials
One promising alternative to traditional air conditioners and refrigerants may be solid-state heat pumping enabled by magnetocaloric materials. These materials heat up or cool down when exposed to a changing magnetic field. Magnetocaloric heat pump technologies can offer higher energy efficiency and eliminate the need for harmful refrigerants.
Radhika Barua of Virginia Commonwealth University leads research in material discovery and additive manufacturing to accelerate the performance and adaptability of solid-state heat pumps. The focus is on applications in off-grid and resource-constrained communities. Barriers include scaling, cost-effectiveness, and durability, and research underway targets each obstacle.
Photo: Radhika Barua
Those are four of the prototypes and products in this year’s list at Engineering for Change.
For the rest of the list, please see “Promising Prototypes to Watch in 2026.”
Rob Goodier is news editor at Engineering for Change, a community working to prepare the international technical workforce to improve life for people and the planet. ASME is a founding partner of E4C.
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