Producing bars of soap and liquid soap from domestic waste oil, thus transforming highly polluting waste into an ‘environmentally friendly’ product. This is how the ‘Social Saponificio’ experience was born in Bari, started thanks to a project by the Effetto Terra association, one of the winners of the Puglia regional call for Social Capital 3.0.
“As Effetto Terra we have always dealt with the environment and the fight against pollution,” says Francesca Covelli, vice-president of the association which also looks after the ‘Campagneros’ social garden in Bari. ‘used oil into something useful and non-polluting’. The project activities, started just under two years ago, were structured along a double track. On the one hand, the environmental education meetings, which involved over 500 students from some institutes in Bari, on the other, the training, aimed at starting the actual production of soap, with one characteristic: the creation of an all-round ‘team’ feminine. The project, in fact, involved ten women, over 50 or without employment, thus combining the themes of environmental respect and the circular economy with an action aimed at promoting a possible job opportunity.
“As regards the schools – explains Covelli – we met the pupils of Grimaldi-Lombardi for primary and middle schools, and of the Perotti and Calamandrei high schools, which not by chance have addresses that deal with catering, precisely to underline the importance of correct disposal of waste such as used oil In addition to the students, we were also able to reach families, who were able to both be informed and actively contribute to the collection, thanks to the partnership with the company RaccolGo, which has installed containers in schoolyards”.
At the same time, activities were started for the participants, hosted in the headquarters of the InConTra association in the San Paolo district. Thanks to the training course, entrusted to two pharmaceutical chemists, the women were able to make bars of soap and liquid soap for washing machines – ‘Saponetica’, the name chosen – flavored with lavender essence. On the occasion of the closing event of the project, which was held last Sunday in the ‘Campagneros’ garden, the products were donated to those present.
And even if the project has now ended, for the future there is the desire to continue the experience of the Social Saponificio: “It is a project that is very close to our hearts – says Covelli – to which we would strongly like to give continuity The participants are enthusiastic, they have learned a lot. This experience has demonstrated first and foremost that if women come together they are a force, and that we must never give up, because there can be opportunities.” To continue the activities, the idea could be to create a cooperative or an artisan business. “We are examining the best path – adds the vice-president of Effetto Terra – An important first step would be to be able to find a place for the activities. It is not easy, as these women do not have starting capital, but we are not discouraged: our appeal It’s aimed at anyone who can lend us a hand.”
