From Desert to Design: Dubai's Sustainable Materials

The global construction industry contributes 39% of carbon emissions. The UAE spends about $500 million annually on importing sand for construction, highlighting the need for sustainable alternatives to reduce costs and emissions.

And thus, Biosand was born! This sustainable alternative to concrete uses an organic composition of UAE desert sand, locally-sourced biopolymers used as binding agents, and minimal water. It stands as a promising first step towards sustainable construction materials.

Lootah founded the Blustery Project during her final year of college, focusing on creating paper from fallen palm leaves. The project celebrates the art of upcycling organic waste, drawing inspiration from the local tradition of using palm trees to make ropes and build houses.

First, the fallen leaves are cut, cooked with sodium carbonate for 4 hours, then washed and blended into a pulp. A mold and frame are used to shape the paper mixture, separating water from pulp. 

DATEFORM teams up with date syrup and cake factories to collect date seed waste, turning it into eco-friendly alternatives to conventional materials like wood, concrete, and steel.

As a result of extensive testing, DATEFORM's solid surface materials can now be used to create counter tops, flooring/tiling systems, wall cladding, shelving units, furniture, and even household products like trays and more. 

Tasnim Tinawi's commitment to sustainability led her to seek locally sourced, eco-friendly indusrial materials. This propelled the idea for an organic stuffing material as an alternative to synthetics used in industry. Behold ‘Desert-Cotton’.