Three friends started this ‘made in UAE’ eco-friendly brand to reduce carbon footprint

Three friends Farida El Agamy (Co-founder & CEO), Samar Sayegh (Co-founder & COO) and Dima Samaan (Co-founder & CMO) started their brand Kyma to sell toxic free, affordable and eco-friendly home cleaning products. From R&D and manufacturing to production and packaging Kyma does everything right here in the UAE at its factory in Sharjah. “The goal is to reduce our environmental impact and carbon footprint,” the Co-founders emphasised.

As part of Kyma’s commitment to reducing single-use plastic, its products are packaged in refillable bottles and recyclable materials. Unlike ready-to-use cleaners, Kyma cleaning products are manufactured in a concentrated tablet form which contains the same active ingredients but without water. “What that means is reduced packaging and no single-use plastic; reduced carbon footprint; and reduced storage needs. Our operations at Kyma prioritise ESG practices and therein we follow strong internal controls and processes.”

ESG is certainly a crucial focus area for most businesses as well as public sector organisations. Asked about ESG reforms that can facilitate changemaking in the region, here’s what the Co-founders said, “Encouraging investment in sustainable start-ups, clean technology and eco-friendly practices is crucial. Governmental incentives such as tax incentives, grants and loans to businesses in the sustainability sector will encourage more businesses to become to operate sustainably. Collaboration and partnerships between businesses, government and academia is needed to drive innovation and progress in sustainability.”

“Importantly, raising public awareness about the benefits of sustainable business practices will encourage more consumers to support companies that prioritise sustainability and businesses to adopt sustainable practices, products and services,” they added.

Impact-making is a long road and thus, having a clear sense of purpose is important for businesses that are keen to become changemakers as it provides a roadmap for creating a positive impact. “Our sense of purpose helps us to stay focused on our mission, make decisions aligned with our values and engage our employees and stakeholders around a shared cause. It also serves as a source of inspiration and motivation and helps companies differentiate themselves in a competitive market,” the Co-founders agreed.

In Greek the word Kyma means waves. The Co-founders deliberately chose the name Kyma due to their firm conviction that every small step taken towards impact-making will eventually lead to a wave of change. “We’ve dared to change the world with a tiny product that can literally fit into your palm – a safe, non-toxic, environment, kids and pet friendly cleaning tablet,” they conclude.