Aromatic plants like Bay Leaf, Patchouli, Clove, and Galangal are gaining recognition as valuable additions to sustainable agriculture. These botanicals produce essential oils and bioactive compounds that hold therapeutic properties (e.g., Sharma et al., 2022; Journal of Essential Oil Research), particularly suitable for eco-friendly skincare applications. This article highlights the scientific rationale and entrepreneurial potential of cultivating these species, based on evidence from GC-MS analysis and biological assays. Integrating such plant-based solutions into value-added products can support rural economies while contributing to environmentally conscious beauty industries.

Agro-waste valorisation is emerging as a high-value strategy to reduce agricultural residues while replacing fossil-based plastics and synthetic agrochemicals. Converting crop residues into bioplastics and plant bio-stimulants aligns with circular economy goals by closing material loops and reducing waste. This article summarizes life cycle assessment (LCA) findings on these pathways, highlighting environmental benefits, key trade-offs, and design considerations for integrated biorefineries. Overall, agro-waste-derived products offer significant potential for lowering greenhouse gas emissions and resource use, though results depend strongly on system boundaries, energy supply, and allocation methods.

Synthetic microbial communities (SynComs)-deliberately designed consortia with defined composition and functional traits-are emerging as powerful tools for restoring soil health. By combining complementary microbial metabolisms, SynComs can accelerate contaminant degradation, enhance nutrient cycling, and improve plant performance more reliably than single-strain inoculants. This article summarises how SynComs function, highlights key indicators for assessing their efficiency, and evaluates their potential for sustainable soil remediation.