TARGET GROUP

The activity is intended for the general public, particularly youth, students, and eco-conscious citizens interested in sustainability, circular design, and zero-waste lifestyles. It also targets local communities, including individuals from tourism, hospitality, and creative sectors, who can apply zero-waste solutions in their daily practices.

Special emphasis will be placed on engaging teaching institutions where young adults and local innovators in cosmetics can act as multipliers – spreading knowledge, inspiring behavioral change, and fostering community-driven environmental awareness.

MATERIALS & TOOLS NEEDED

List all required materials and tools:

• Ingredients:

Shampoo dough for balls mixture of:

• 40% Tapioca starch
• 60% Any type of liquid shampoo

Seaweed coating:

• 4g Stearic acid
• 2g Sodium alginate
• 80ml Water (aqua)
• 1g Calcium Chloride
• 70 g 96% Ethanol
• 75 g Dehydrated liquid shampoo

• Equipment:
  • 1 large metal bowl
  • 2 small metal bowls
  • 1 wooden bowl
  • 1 spoon
  • 2 small sieves
  • 1 tray
  • Dehydrator/dryer (optional)
  • Handheld stick blender (optional)
  • Press gun (optional)
  • Container for the balls (optional)

• Digital tools:
  • Mobile phone or computer
  • TV or projector and projector screen

• Templates and forms (e.g. data sheets, consent forms)
  • Zero-waste cosmetics Survey (before & after)
  • Zero-waste product satisfactory sheet 

STEP-BY-STEP PROCESS

Preparation

• Prepare a clean work surface (steel or wooden countertop/tray)
• Prepare the listed equipment and tools
• Measure and prepare all the listed ingredients

Activity implementation

Mixing of the shampoo dough: 

• Into 750 g of dehydrated shampoo (water content below 40%), mix 500g of Tapioca Starch (approximately 1/3 at a time). 
• First, mix the ingredients with a spoon, then knead with your hands.

(The shampoo dough is ready when it no longer sticks to your hands or the bowl.)

Making of shampoo balls with press gun: 

• Spread tapioca starch with a sieve on a wooden surface.
• Use a spoon to transfer the shampoo dough into the press gun.
• Apply pressure to the press gun handle to make lines of shampoo dough.
• Cut the shampoo dough into equal pieces, approximately 1-1.5 cm wide.
• Take one piece in your hand and use the other hand to shape it into a ball.

(Lightly dust your hands with starch before starting.)

• Place the balls on a surface and avoid them touching each other.

OR

Making of shampoo balls with ball machine: 

• Take approx. 30g of the dough and roll it into a 30 cm-long shape with a diameter of about 2 cm. 
• Add some tapioca starch to the ball machine, then place the 30 cm shampoo dough inside. Gently press the dough to position it in place. 
• Turn the lever clockwise until all the shampoo balls drop out to the tray below.
• Place balls on a surface and avoid them touching each other.

Preparing coating solution 1:

• Add 20g of sodium alginate and 5 g of tapioca starch to 500 ml of water.
• Blend until fully dissolved (approximately 3 minutes).

Preparing coating solution 2:

• Add all ingredients into one beaker: 40 g Stearic acid, 10 g Calcium Chloride, 1 g Menthol (optional), 300 ml Water, 700 g 96 % Ethanol.
• Blend until fully dissolved.

Coating the shampoo balls:

• Add 3 tablespoons of Zero-waste seaweed Coating (solution 1) to a small wooden bowl.
• Wet the sieve with Seaweed Coating Solution, then add the shampoo balls. 
• Swirl the shampoo balls in the sieve to achieve a glossy finish.
• OPTIONAL step: Place the shampoo ball in the wooden bowl with pigment, then swirl until the pigment covers the surface. You can repeat the steps for adding multiple pigments.
• Prepare a larger bowl with a seaweed crosslinking solution (solution 2).
• Transfer shampoo balls to the bowl with Seaweed crosslinking Solution. 
• Let the balls sit for at least 10 seconds.
• Pick up the coated shampoo balls.
• Place the shampoo balls in a container to dry, or let the excess liquid evaporate for a few minutes.

Zero-Waste Packaging Options:

• Refillable container – for home use.
• Shelf storage without packaging – a minimal-waste option.
• Paper box – ideal for travel.

How to use it:

• Take the shampoo ball and start rubbing it between your hands under the water until it foams.
• Apply shampoo to your hair and body 
• Rinse with water
• Leave zero-waste behind.

One shampoo ball is for a single use.

Store the shampoo balls in a safe, out-of-reach space for children.

Documentation (how data will be recorded and stored)

The final user experience will be evaluated through an online product satisfaction survey completed after testing the zero-waste cosmetics in various settings, including at home, hotels, campsites, on the beach, at school, in the gym, and other locations. The survey sheet is available in a Google Form. The specially marked section will be used to collect citizen data, which will be added to the public REMEDIES dashboard.

ADDITIONAL MATERIALS

Do it yourself protocols for Zero-waste seaweed coating for cosmetics using standard protocol or its upgrades with machine for creating shampoo balls (pdf) and using colours to make your unique coatings (pdf) 

Discover more supportive documents on citizen science demonstrations (infographics, FAQ):

Discover more supportive documents for workshop organizers:

ADDITIONAL MATERIALS

for Citizen Science Workshop Organizers

You may include the following information in your Citizen Science protocol document to help others organize a well-structured Citizen Science workshop and tailor it to their needs. Alternatively, you may keep these guidelines for your own internal use.

1. Pre- & Post-Questionnaires

Before the activity:

• Distribute a pre-questionnaire to measure baseline knowledge or behaviors on zero-waste cosmetics. 

• This can be done via Google Form or Mentimeter.

After the activity:

• Distribute a post-questionnaire on:

After the activity:

• Distribute a post-questionnaire on:

• Workshop experience and satisfaction

• Difficulties faced

• Suggestions for improvement

• Whether they would recommend or repeat the activity

3. Safety & Ethical Considerations

• Consent and data privacy procedures should be implemented where necessary, ensuring compliance with relevant ethical and data protection standards.

• In cases where videos or photos are collected for public dissemination, reporting, or promotional purposes, a consent form must be prepared and signed by all workshop participants to protect their rights and comply with GDPR requirements.

• A mandatory safety briefing prior to the operation of the ball machine and any other tools or equipment used during the workshop.
• Presentation materials will be designed to be inclusive and accessible, taking into consideration the needs of vulnerable groups such as individuals with epilepsy, dyslexia, or other specific conditions.