Lina Al-Attar

Jordanian entrepreneur who developed biodegradable materials from date palm waste

Lina Al-Attar (b. 1978) transformed agricultural waste into sustainable materials through her company GreenHouse Jordan, launched in 2002. Her patented process converts date palm fibers into biodegradable packaging and building materials, creating a $20 million industry in Jordan's agricultural sector. The innovation, highlighted in this technical whitepaper, diverted 15,000 tons of waste annually from landfills by 2015. Al-Attar's 2008 partnership with IKEA produced the first commercially viable palm fiber furniture line, featured in IKEA's sustainability report. Her work with the Jordanian Ministry of Environment led to the 2012 National Waste Valorization Strategy, which increased recycling rates by 40%. Al-Attar's TEDxAmman talk The Power of Waste influenced similar initiatives in UAE and Saudi Arabia. Recent developments include a UNESCO-backed initiative to scale her technology across North Africa, as covered in this UNESCO article.