On October 8, 2024, a distinguished team from the Faculty of Engineering was honored with the prestigious title of "Champion of Plastic Pollution Prevention in the Mediterranean." The Engineering team, led by Dr. Marianne Saba and comprising Dr. Wahib Arairo, Mrs. Mantoura Nakad, and Dr. Makram Bachawati, received this recognition for their voluntary efforts in combating plastic pollution.

The team’s impactful contributions were part of the region-wide campaign under the “Water and Environment Support (WES) in the ENI Southern Neighborhood Region” project. This initiative, supported by the European Union (EU), was conducted in collaboration with the Union for the Mediterranean and the Mediterranean Action Plan of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP/MAP).

Dr. Saba’s published paper entitled: Awareness of citizens for the one-use plastics. Comparison between a high-income and an upper-middle-income economy of the Eastern Mediterranean Region, Greece, and Lebanon resulted in the invitation of the University of Balamand to participate and contribute to this environmental timely initiative.

The project involved a series of impactful initiatives aimed at tackling plastic pollution. It began with organizing beach clean-ups in collaboration with the local community, resulting in the collection of several tons of plastic waste. Efforts were then expanded to engage the community in continuous plastic collection from the surrounding areas. Comprehensive market research identified the best method to transform collected plastics into fishnets, followed by active communication with local fishermen to raise awareness and secure their support in retrieving plastic from the sea. Finally, the plastic waste was recycled based on its type and potential for reuse, ensuring a sustainable approach to mitigating marine pollution.

Vice President for Internationalization and Engagement and Dean of the Faculty of Engineering Professor Rami Abboud commended the Engineering team’s efforts in being Champions in addressing plastic pollution prevention stating: “This honor underscores the team's commitment to environmental sustainability and their significant role in promoting cleaner and healthier ecosystems in the Mediterranean region targeting directly SDGs 12 and 14”. ​