Pharmacist Ruth Avegail Capapas wins Green Product Award in Berlin for ‘Bebot’ soap

A Filipino-American pharmacist from Mississippi is bringing Filipino-inspired innovation to the global stage after winning a prestigious international sustainability award in Berlin, Germany.

Ruth Avegail Capapas, founder of Bebot Simple Soap, was named a winner of the 2026 Green Product Award, an international competition recognizing products that combine innovation, sustainability, and environmental responsibility. Her soap was selected as one of only 36 winners from more than 1,200 submissions representing 54 countries.

For Avegail, the recognition was about more than a product.

“It was about representing Filipino-inspired innovation on a global stage and demonstrating that simple, practical solutions can make a meaningful difference for both people and the planet,” she said.

Solution to a personal health struggle  

The inspiration behind Bebot Simple Soap began not in a laboratory but in Avegail’s own bathroom.

Born and raised in Zambales, Philippines, to an Ilonggo father from Roxas City, Capiz, and an Ilocano mother from Zambales, Avegail completed her pharmacy degree at Centro Escolar University in Manila and became a licensed pharmacist in 2002.

For much of her life, she struggled with Ichthyosis, a chronic skin condition commonly known as “fish skin,” characterized by dry, scaly skin and heightened sensitivity.

“As a pharmacist, I understood the science behind many skin-care products,” she said in an interview with The FilAm. “But I still found myself frustrated by the lack of options that truly worked for me.”

In 2023, as she entered her 40s and experienced worsening symptoms associated with aging and skin sensitivities, she decided to formulate a soap tailored to her own needs. Her goal was straightforward: create a product made only from simple, familiar, plant-based ingredients that she remembered from her childhood in the Philippines.

While testing the soap on herself, Avegail discovered that the formulation not only soothed her sensitive skin but also effectively neutralized body odor without the need for deodorant. The discovery eventually led her to pursue patent protection. Today, the formulation holds patent-pending status with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Rethinking personal care

As Avegail and her family continued using the soap, another realization emerged. Her husband and their teenage son eventually stopped using deodorants altogether. With one product replacing several others, the number of plastic containers in their household steadily declined.

“That is when I realized something beyond just personal skin care,” she said in the interview. “Almost every product in my bathroom came with its own plastic container.”

The observation opened her eyes to a larger environmental issue. Conventional personal-care routines often involve multiple products—deodorants, body washes, lotions, and sprays—each packaged in plastic that may ultimately end up in landfills.

According to environmental studies, billions of plastic personal-care containers are discarded annually in the United States, contributing to mounting waste-management challenges and environmental pollution.

She saw an opportunity to simplify personal care while reducing plastic consumption. The result was Bebot Simple Soap, an all-natural bathing soap designed as an alternative to both body wash and deodorant.

The product is formulated using simple plant ingredients and contains no aluminum salts, zinc salts, titanium salts, potassium salts, or magnesium salts commonly found in many deodorants. It also avoids parabens, formaldehyde-releasing preservatives, animal fats, and a long list of synthetic additives. Packaged entirely in biodegradable materials, the soap is designed to leave behind no plastic waste.

“Just clean, conscious care that actually works,” she said.

The soap also contains natural coconut strips that provide gentle exfoliation and uses a subtle cream-of-coconut fragrance that allows users to enjoy their preferred perfume or cologne without competing scents.

For Avegail, the Green Product Award ceremony in Berlin provided more than recognition. It offered opportunities to exchange ideas with fellow innovators tackling environmental problems through product design and responsible manufacturing. She described the experience as both educational and inspiring.

“Beyond receiving the award, the experience gave me an opportunity to learn from other changemakers and explore new approaches to sustainable product development,” she said.

Why ‘Bebot’?

Avegail chose “Bebot” in 2023 because it was short, memorable, easy to pronounce, and unmistakably Filipino. More importantly, she saw the word as representing the strength and resilience of Filipino women.

“I wanted a word that represents the spirited, courageous, and determined Filipino woman,” she explained. “Gentle and cultured, yet strong and fearless.”

Some questioned whether “Bebot” would resonate with American consumers. Others recommended generic initials or one-letter brand names that dominate the marketplace. She chose to stay the course.

“I want people to know that it is Filipino,” she said. “I don’t want it to sit in the same room as companies that erase culture and heritage just to fit in.”

That commitment to authenticity has become part of the company’s identity. Avegail consistently describes Bebot Simple Soap as a Filipino-inspired brand. – Cristina DC Pastor