From prayers to pigments: Transforming waste into sustainable paint!

“The answer lies not in rejecting something, but in redefining it with purpose.”

The Spark of Inspiration

It began with me explaining my relatives and friends about how I needed to come up with a problem for my passion project and find a solution for that. Then one of my father's friends told me about a lady who recycled the oil offerings into a component for soap which helped the environment a lot. This story really inspired me and made me want to do something similar.

Understanding the Cultural and Environmental Problem

Temple waste isn’t handled properly and it affects both the environment and cultural heritage. We must maintain cleanliness and uphold religious values, so I decided on the problem statement: “How can I recycle temple waste to uphold religious values and maintain cleanliness?” I have seen temple waste not being handled properly throughout my life and it is a big problem as lakes are filled with waste and it's not good for marine life.

Connecting Passion with Purpose

I wanted to make something art-related to solve this problem, and a few years ago I found a creator testing out a paint made from iron oxide. Iron oxide was polluting some forests, so a small team cleaned it and recycled it to make a paint. That gave me the idea, “What if I make paint out of temple waste?” I fixed on that idea and began researching how temple waste could be turned into pigment. I explored incense ash initially but realised it was unsafe and toxic.

First Prototype and Early Challenges

I made a prototype using a simple formula: pigment plus watercolour medium. It did not go well. The paint was streaky, unprofessional, and lacked pigmentation. I used sandalwood powder as a test pigment, which clearly did not work. After a few weeks, I checked the paint again only to find a foul smell and mold. That experience made me understand that shortcuts will not work; I needed a proper paint formula from scratch.

Lessons Learned Through Experimentation

This project taught me that there is no simple way to solve anything. I realised that I must figure things out independently and that my own research, innovation, and effort are what will drive this project forward. My first prototype had many challenges, and I need to address them step by step, even if it takes a long time.

Looking Ahead: Developing a Better Formula

The next step is to create another prototype. I have researched how to make paint that will not mould, smell, or lose quality, but I want to learn more before beginning again. I also want to explore alternative ideas beyond paint as a backup, so I have another direction to work on if this concept does not succeed.

At Keystone International School, students are encouraged to observe their surroundings, question deeply, and design solutions that create real environmental and social impact. Projects like transforming temple waste into sustainable paint demonstrate how learners are empowered to blend creativity with scientific inquiry and cultural understanding.

If you aspire for your child to learn in a school where innovation is nurtured, research skills are developed, and ideas are transformed into purposeful action, we invite you to explore our admissions pathway.

Blog Written by,

Monitha,

Grade: 9