A plastic recycling project of a multinational student team, whose three members are from BRAC University, has been awarded the first prize of USD 1,500 at the international pitch competition, "Launch a Different World 2024".

The project focuses on converting recycled plastic into cost-effective 3D printing materials and sustainable products, and in the process, empowering communities, reducing plastic waste, and promoting a circular economy.

Of the members of "Team Repurpose", Mohammad Imran Uddin (MBA in Marketing), Mohiuddin Ahmed (BBA in Finance), and Abtahi Abrar (BBA in Marketing) are studying at BRAC Business School of BRAC University.

Of the remaining two members, Wei Jou Huang (MS in Oceanography) is a student at National Taiwan University, while Maria Vlaykova (BBA in Management) is from the American University in Bulgaria.

The team plans to launch pilot production and distribute their initial batch of 3D printing filament for testing among firms and services in Bangladesh that create architectural models and personalised gifts. They are also working on collaborations with the Eindhoven University of Technology, filament company Recycling Fabrik, and 3D printing service provider Tangible Creative.

The team believes that the future of sustainability lies in Bangladesh and that if it can be done in this country, it can be made possible anywhere in the world.

The pitch competition was run under an Open Society University Network (OSUN) course titled Social Entrepreneurship Practicum which was taught in the Fall 2024 semester. The course was co-taught by faculty members of universities and entities in Bangladesh, Palestine, Kyrgyzstan, Bulgaria, the United States, Lithuania, South Africa, the Netherlands, the Philippines and Ghana. The prize was sponsored by Bard College. At BRAC University, the course is taught by Dr Sebastian Groh of BRAC Business School and Neealana Naushin of the School of General Education.