plastic waste

From agriculture to IT and education, these organisations are tackling waste with innovation — turning coconut shells into battery materials, banana waste into eco-products, and plastic into furniture — while cutting costs and reducing environmental footprints.

Noticing the lack of sustainable alternatives to plastic stationery in India, Saurabh Mehta started NOTE (No Offence To Earth) to develop a biodegradable pen. He has sold over 20,000 units.

Radhesh Agrahari runs Golden Feathers, a startup which converts chicken butchery waste including feathers into a ‘wool-like’ fibre and handmade paper.

Dr Balmukund Paliwal built a two-storey house in Chandrapur, Maharashtra, using recycled plastic waste and preventing 13 tonnes of plastic from reaching landfills. Here's how he did it.

Brothers Rishabh and Rohan Suri started Qudrat, a Kerala-based startup that makes biodegradable tableware from agricultural waste. Their aim is to replace paper and plastic products, while also making them animal friendly.

A welder by profession, Binu Punchakkari built a boat and a crane for picking up waste from the Vellayani lake, and an electric bush cutter to eliminate the weeds. So far, he has single-handedly removed plastic waste from the lake.

Mayank and Bhuvan, two Bengaluru-based brothers, launched their startup Gud Gum to provide a biodegradable and healthier alternative to regular chewing gum, which pollutes the earth with plastic.

Meet Mani Vajipey and Raj Madangopal, who quit their lucrative careers to solve India's massive non-recycled plastic waste problem. With their startup, Banyan Nation, they have recycled over one lakh tonnes of plastic waste, so far, into 300 million FMCG bottles.

In accordance with the government's ban on single-use plastic, the administration of Junagadh, led by Collector Rachit Raj, launched Prakrutik Plastic Cafe, which serves nutritious food in exchange for plastic.

Design student Sara Lakhani launched Trash or Treasure to turn plastic into ethnic wear using kantha embroidery. Her initiative won her an opportunity to showcase her work at Lakme Fashion Week.