green innovation

A startup that turns waste into fuel. Another that designs cells to detect pollution. All led by students and young founders. The force behind them? Sustainability Mafia—a climate community that’s helping solve real-world environmental problems by showing youth how to build for the planet, from the ground up.

What do you do with a weed that grows back in 14 days and kills everything in its path? In Trichy, 25-year-old ecologist Sushmita Krishnan found an answer — she turned it into handmade paper and trained 150 women to do the same.

Samvit Govindani and Shaurya Sharma are tackling plastic pollution by turning discarded PVC banners into stylish everyday products. Their initiative, ‘Project ReFlex’, empowers women from low-income backgrounds by providing steady work and income, turning environmental challenges into meaningful opportunities.

At Narayanpur High School near Kolkata, students are learning valuable environmental lessons by turning everyday waste into art and useful products. This model of education combines sustainability with skill-building, offering a replicable framework for schools aiming to empower students and protect the planet.

When Ramachandra saw trees being cut, he quit his job and started Green Morning Horticulture Services. Since 2010, it’s helped move 1.5 lakh trees to safety.

What began as a florist’s curiosity has now grown into an inspiring eco-art movement in Senapati, Manipur, where artist Nelly Chacheya transforms discarded corn husks into beautiful, biodegradable dolls that empower women and rethink waste.

At the Brahma Kumaris’ Shantivan Complex, 84 giant reflectors harness the sun to produce thousands of meals daily — fuel-free, emission-free, and inspiring.

Once infamous for pollution, Tiruppur’s textile industry is now a model for water recycling and sustainability using Zero Liquid Discharge systems.

At Srinagar's iconic Dal Lake, a silent transformation is underway. Maninder Singh and his startup CleanEffentech are turning stubborn lake weeds into organic gold—fertiliser that fuels farms. In the process, they're not just cleaning a polluted lake, but creating a model for sustainability that blends innovation with local impact.

Troubled by the ever-increasing pile of plastic waste, Nikhil Kumar started Greenevon Bio Bottles, a startup that makes 'plastic-like' bottles.