The Bhutanese Leading the way.
A team of young Bhutanese innovators, calling themselves Eco Pet, has brought national pride by securing third place at the regional PLEASE Hack competition, held in Colombo, Sri Lanka on 6th April.
Eco Pet’s creative project is a mobile application that utilizes gamification to engage users in fun, challenge-based learning that encourages sustainable behavior and promotes household waste reduction. It was recognized among the top three solutions to tackle the growing crisis of plastic pollution in South Asia.
Competing against teams from across the region, Eco Pet proposed a platform that not only educates users about proper waste management but also rewards them for taking action.
Gamification is the process of applying typical elements of game playing, such as point scoring, competition, and achievement levels, to non-game environments.
By transforming everyday tasks like waste segregation or plastic reduction into a rewarding experience, gamification makes it easier for people, especially young people, to stay motivated and consistent in their efforts.
Through Eco Pet’s App, users can earn points for completing eco-friendly tasks, track their impact, and even unlock rewards, creating a culture of accountability and celebration around sustainability.
Their innovative solution caught the attention of a panel of judges who were environmental experts and entrepreneurs from across South Asia, who evaluated the entries based on creativity, implementation plan, business potential, scalability, and regional relevance.
The Eco Pet team impressed the panel with their approach to creating behavioral change at the household level using accessible technology.
The team competed against 22 other finalist teams who had been selected from an initial pool of 250 youth applicants. Participants, aged 18 to 30, came from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
These young innovators had formed 98 teams to submit proposals that addressed plastic use and waste management in households, communities, and businesses.
The competition was part of the Plastic-Free Rivers and Seas for South Asia (PLEASE) project, which is South Asia’s largest initiative to tackle plastic pollution and promote sustainable plastic use.
The project is funded by the World Bank, implemented by the South Asia Cooperative Environment Programme (SACEP), with support from the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS).
The PLEASE Hack is one of the flagship components of this initiative, designed specifically to engage young people in developing scalable, innovative solutions for environmental problems.
The hackathon took place in two phases. First, shortlisted teams participated in a two-week virtual hackathon in March, where they refined their concepts with help from national mentors. This phase provided the opportunity for cross-border learning and collaborative thinking, which was central to the event’s purpose.
Later, 23 teams were selected to attend the regional finals in Colombo, where they pitched their ideas in person to the judging panel.
Taking first place at the competition was Myco Box by White Root, a Sri Lankan team that designed a biodegradable fish storage box made from mycelium, an alternative to Styrofoam containers commonly used in the fisheries industry.
Second place was awarded to India’s Green Alchemy, a team that developed a biotechnology-based solution using enzymes to break down plastic materials.
Bhutan’s Eco-Pet team, while securing third place overall, emerged as one of the most relatable and engaging entries, particularly for everyday users. Tha App focuses on educating the public in a way that is interactive and habit-forming.
Unlike traditional awareness campaigns, Eco Pet’s platform allows users to participate in challenges, track progress, and get rewarded for sustainable choices.
As one of the regional winners, the Bhutanese team will now receive funding to further develop their platform and pitch it to potential investors. The support aims to transform their prototype into a market-ready tool that can be adopted widely in Bhutan and potentially adapted for use in other countries in the region.
