05/16/2026
16-year-olds Vivaan Chhawchharia, Ariana Agarwal, and Avyana Mehta, used powdered tamarind seed as the base for an all-natural microplastic clumping agent. After a short agitation period, the clumped microplastic-tamarind mass can be removed with nothing more than a magnet.
In recognition of their brilliant invention, the 3 whiz kids were named Asia Winners of The Earth Prize 2026, which includes $12,5000 for each of them to develop their creation, called “Plas-Stick.”
Designed for use in shared water containers, the biodegradable powder binds invisible plastic particles into visible clumps that can then be easily removed with a handheld magnet, offering a simple and low-cost alternative to complex filtration systems.
The idea was sparked by the team’s studies in environmental science and a visit to a rural community, where they observed how drinking water is often stored in shared containers without access to advanced filtration systems.
3 Teens Win Earth Prize for Asia Inventing Tamarind Powder That Easily Removes Microplastics https://share.google/5SVakAXzPjKQzclo7
Over 2.2 billion people lack safely managed drinking water infrastructure, increasing reliance on stored water that may contain microplastics