Natural water purifier set for Sustainable Finals at COP28

Water savings of 70 percent in wastewater treatment through an inexpensive and natural process have propelled TransForm of 1994 into the finals in Dubai with a prize pool of $4 million.

In the shadow of Dubai’s iconic towers and the prospect of a substantial prize pool on the horizon, the Danish company TransForm of 1994 has found itself as one of three finalists in the prestigious Zayed Sustainability Prize in the “Water” category. Founded by the United Arab Emirates, this prize celebrates the most groundbreaking and innovative contributions to global sustainability. The winner will be announced on December 1 during COP28 in the United Arab Emirates.

For TransForm of 1994 ApS, pioneers in sustainable wastewater treatment, this recognition is a step towards expanding the company’s root zone technology internationally. With a prize pool of $600,000, it’s no wonder that CEO and founder Jørgen Løgstrup is looking forward to the ceremony.

“We are, of course, incredibly happy about the nomination, and it’s a great recognition of our technology,” says Jørgen Løgstrup.

The company has been encouraged several times to submit an application to the prize committee, but it was only this year that the consistently busy company did so. Jørgen Løgstrup is not surprised that the Danish root zone technology has significant potential on the global stage.

“It remains to be seen how much significance the nomination will have for the company. But they want to offer business development to the winner, and in the desert, it’s only a positive thing if they can embrace our water treatment technology,” says Jørgen Løgstrup.

What is root zone technology?

TransForm of 1994 develops root zone technology, with a potential to dramatically change wastewater treatment worldwide. With root zone technology, installation and operating costs for water purification can be significantly minimized, while water savings of up to 70 percent can be achieved in wastewater treatment. However, the technology is not only a winner in terms of wastewater treatment; it also has a significant climate impact, as the plants in the system absorb large amounts of CO2 while cooling the surface of the earth, which is a sought-after effect in the hottest areas of the globe.

The technology, originally developed to bind phosphorus in soil at a German agricultural college in the 1970s, was commercialized by the founder of TransForm of 1994, Jørgen Løgstrup. The technology operates by sending wastewater through a filtration system, where the roots of plants and filtering materials purify the wastewater through a biological process. This occurs when microorganisms present in the wastewater are exposed to aerobic and anaerobic conditions, allowing the root system to absorb and break down harmful substances while binding phosphorus and heavy metals in the filter.

Root zone technology is already in use in several international locations, from South America to Africa. One of the facilities highlighted by Jørgen Løgstrup is one established in Uganda back in 1996, where the biological system treated wastewater from a French cobalt mine.

“The World Bank hired us to handle environmental control at the mine through root zone technology. We did that successfully until the mine closed a few years ago,” says Jørgen Løgstrup.

However, root zone technology can also be used in more typical settings. One example Jørgen Løgstrup points out is a method they have developed for car wash facilities. Here, the technology allows for the reuse of 90 percent of the water used to clean a car.

Reducing Environmental Impact

There is no doubt that TransForm of 1994 is looking forward to and hoping to win the prestigious Zayed Sustainability Prize. Despite working on several exciting projects around the world, Jørgen Løgstrup would like to see the technology become more widespread.

“We have installed some facilities in Oman, but we want to expand more internationally. So, winning could help restart that process. We have done well with the worksites we have established, but if we win, we should expand our activities,” says Jørgen Løgstrup.

But it’s not actually the economics that drive TransForm’s mission forward. It is more the purpose of creating a world with less environmental impact.

“What we are interested in is promoting a system where we don’t have an environmental impact. At our company, we avoid those things because we use a natural process in our facilities,” explains Jørgen Løgstrup.

The Zayed Sustainability Prize is awarded in conjunction with COP28, which will be held in the United Arab Emirates from November 30 to December 12 under the theme “UN Climate Change Conference.”

Facts:

TransForm of 1994 ApS is a Danish bioengineering company with over 35 years of experience in the development and implementation of environmental technology solutions.

TransForm of 1994 is already behind 1000 projects in more than 30 countries.