Alexei Volkov
India is the world's third-largest waste-generating country, with 49.8 million tonnes of solid waste produced annually, one-third of which ends up in landfills and water bodies. In response, India has implemented policies and initiatives to address the issue of plastic waste, including expanding its first Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework in 2016 and banning single-use plastics in July 2022. As a result, India has seen the emergence of numerous innovative companies that utilise recycled plastic to create a variety of products, from furniture and home decor to clothing and footwear. These companies are not only contributing to environmental sustainability but also driving economic growth and creating employment opportunities.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plastic Recycling Plants in India | 257 |
| Plastic Waste Collection | 60% by formal waste collection system; 60% in some cities by informal sector |
| Plastic Waste Ending up in Landfills or Water Bodies | 80% |
| Energy Saved by Recycling PET Bottles | 50-60% |
| Companies Making Products from Recycled Plastic | Econiture, Unirec, Thaely, Earocycle, econscious, ROSUNI, Tropic Aura, Pluto Intero |
| Products Made from Recycled Plastic | Furniture, clothing, workwear, uniforms, footwear, sunglasses, home decor, packaging |
| Year of Ban on Single-Use Plastic | 2022 |
| Year of Implementation of EPR Policy | 2024 |
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What You'll Learn
Recycled plastic furniture
India has been making efforts to reduce the harmful impact of plastic on the environment. In 2022, the country officially banned the use of single-use plastic. Recycling plastic is crucial in India, where 80% of plastic waste ends up in landfills or water bodies.
Econiture, a division of Recycle Bell Private Limited, is one such Indian company that operates on the circular economy concept of turning trash into unique products. The company was founded in 2017 by four friends—Madhur Rathi, Roshan Pidiyar, Bhushan Boob, and Ashish Modak—with an initial investment of Rs 5 lakh each, along with a soft loan of Rs 5 lakh from a friend and a Rs 10 lakh bank loan. Econiture manufactures furniture and home decor from 100% recycled plastic materials, including chairs, writing desks, racks, stands, shelves, pots, benches, and tables. Their products are sold through e-commerce platforms like Amazon, with prices ranging from Rs 300 to Rs 29,000.
In an interview, Madhur Rathi, CEO of Recycle Bell Private Limited, highlighted the potential of recycling waste to generate revenue in India, stating that the country has the required infrastructure, but proper channelization of resources is lacking. He emphasized the untapped potential of start-ups in the recycling industry to create significant revenue, employment opportunities, and a reduced carbon footprint.
Another company, Metro Recycle Industries, offers recycled plastic sheets for furniture with thicknesses ranging from 4 mm to 30 mm, priced at Rs 95 per square foot.
In addition to furniture, recycled plastic in India is also used to create clothing, workwear, uniforms, and footwear. For instance, Unirec manufactures garments from recycled PET bottles, while Thaely produces footwear using fabric made from plastic bags.
The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has implemented quality standards for recycled plastics, ensuring they meet requirements for strength, purity, and consistency. This encourages leading global brands to incorporate recycled plastics into their products and packaging, driven by growing consumer preference for sustainable options.
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Clothing and accessories
India has been taking steps to address the damaging impact of plastic on the environment. In 2022, the country officially banned the use of single-use plastic, and in 2016, it expanded its first Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework to hold producers accountable for their plastic production and packaging. This framework specifies the quantity of waste that must be managed by producers, importers, and brand owners who generate plastic packaging waste.
Several Indian companies are now using recycled plastic to create clothing, workwear, uniforms, and accessories. Unirec, founded in 2021, is one such company. They create trendy clothing items such as T-shirts, shirts, jackets, blazers, and trousers from recycled plastic bottles. Their manufacturing process has lower carbon emissions, and their objective is to ensure that used plastic does not end up as waste material that pollutes the environment.
Thaely, another Indian company, manufactures footwear using fabric produced from used plastic bags. Their manufacturing process does not involve any additional chemicals, and it does not release any toxic chemicals as a byproduct. Their sneakers are made with ThaelyTex, a fabric made from waste plastic bags, recycled plastic bags (PET), and recycled rubber.
In addition to clothing and footwear, recycled plastic is also used to create accessories such as sunglasses. One impact-first startup in India has created the world's first pair of recycled sunglasses from polyolefins extracted from multilayer plastic (MLP).
The use of recycled plastic in the fashion industry is not only environmentally responsible but also aligns with the growing consumer preference for sustainable options. Leading global brands are increasingly incorporating recycled plastics into their products, driven by consumer demand for environmentally conscious companies.
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Eco-friendly home decor
India has been making efforts to reduce the harmful impact of plastic on the environment. The country banned the use of single-use plastic in July 2022 and has been turning waste into valuable resources. Several companies in India are using recycled plastic to create eco-friendly products, including home decor items.
Brown Living, for example, offers a range of eco-friendly and sustainable home decor products. Their items are not only aesthetically pleasing but also environmentally responsible, helping consumers lower their carbon footprint. Their collection includes stylish tables, cosy chairs, organic textiles, and handcrafted decor. The handcrafted items are made by artisans using traditional methods, supporting cultural heritage and fair trade principles.
NOVICA is another source for unique eco-friendly Indian home decor. Their collection includes a variety of accessories, wall decor, kitchen and dining items, and holiday ornaments. The items are made from a range of natural and sustainable materials, including wood, paper, cotton, jute, and silk.
Econiture, a division of Recycle Bell Private Limited, creates furniture from recycled plastic materials. Their product line includes chairs, writing desks, racks, stands, tables, and benches, all made without the use of chemicals or colour pigments.
Unirec, founded in 2021, manufactures clothing, workwear, and uniforms from recycled plastic bottles, ensuring that plastic materials do not end up polluting the environment. Their product range includes T-shirts, shirts, jackets, blazers, and trousers, all made with lower carbon emissions during the manufacturing process.
Thaely, another innovative company, manufactures footwear using fabric produced from used plastic bags. Their manufacturing process does not involve any additional or toxic chemicals, contributing to a greener environment.
By choosing eco-friendly home decor, you can beautify your living space while supporting sustainability, ethical manufacturing, and a reduced carbon footprint. These conscious choices not only promote environmental responsibility but also showcase your individual style and encourage resourcefulness.
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Green energy
India is the world's third-largest waste-generating country, producing 49.8 million tonnes of solid waste annually, one-third of which ends up in landfills or water bodies. In 2022, India officially banned the use of single-use plastic to reduce its damaging environmental impact. Despite this, India faces challenges in plastic recycling, including limited segregation at the source, a lack of formal waste collection in many areas, and the prevalence of multilayer packaging, which is difficult to recycle.
However, India is home to many innovative companies that are turning recycled plastic into valuable resources and unique products. Econiture, a company founded in 2017, manufactures furniture from recycled plastic materials, including chairs, writing desks, racks, stands, tables, and benches. Similarly, econscious collects and upcycles plastic waste into eco-boards, which are then used to manufacture products like park benches, targeting corporate foundations, NGOs, and government institutions.
In the realm of green energy, Climeasy is a circular platform that enables the production of green energy from multilayer plastic waste. Their decentralised chemical recycling unit can produce green fuel, carbon black, and Syn Gas, which are useful in various industries. Another company, TRST01, employs blockchain technology to provide a robust platform for end-to-end traceability and transparency in the waste management process.
India also has several companies that use recycled plastic to create fabrics and clothing. Unirec, founded in 2021, manufactures clothing, workwear, and uniforms from recycled plastic bottles, ensuring lower carbon emissions throughout their manufacturing process. Thaely, a company with a manufacturing plant in Gurugram, India, produces footwear using fabric made from plastic bags, recycled plastic, and rubber.
To support these initiatives, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has established quality standards for recycled plastics, ensuring they meet requirements for strength, purity, and consistency. India's Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework also holds producers accountable for their plastic production and packaging, specifying the quantity of waste they must manage.
Overall, India is making strides in the realm of recycling plastic waste and creating green energy, with a growing number of companies embracing sustainability and driving positive change.
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Footwear
India has seen a rise in the number of start-ups offering services of refurbishing and upcycling footwear. One of the challenges faced by the footwear industry is that shoes comprise over 40 parts, most of which are made of non-biodegradable material that may take several decades to decompose in landfills. The glue that joins these components is believed to contaminate other recyclable components, making it tougher to break down the shoe.
One such start-up is Mumbai-based Greensole, which has been recycling and upcycling discarded shoes and converting them into new footwear that is distributed to underprivileged children. Another start-up, Thaely, manufactures footwear using fabric produced solely from used plastic bags. The company collects plastic bags from homes and offices and converts them into a fabric called ThaelyTex, which contains no chemicals and is used to make the tops of the shoes. ThaelyTex looks and feels like leather but is made entirely out of waste plastic bags.
Neeman's is another brand that makes a whole footwear range out of recycled plastic. Their ReLive Knit Sneakers are made of 100% recycled plastic yarn, available in 9 vibrant and classy colors. Their ReLive Knit Slip Ons are made of the same material as their ReLive Knit Sneakers, minus the adjustable laces. Lastly, their ReLive You Sneakers are trendy and fun and available in 4 different two-toned, color-blocked designs. All of their footwear ranges offer 12-14 hours of comfortable wear in one go.
Reroute is a startup that utilizes carbon-negative materials such as sugarcane residue and plastic water bottles to manufacture shoes. They aim to develop 100% carbon-neutral products by reducing waste such as sugarcane residue and plastic bottles and giving a second lease of life to this waste. The shoes are very comfortable to wear and feel like a feather on the skin.
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Frequently asked questions
They make a variety of products out of recycled plastic in India, including:
- Furniture
- Clothing and accessories
- Footwear
- Packaging
- Building materials
Some companies that make products from recycled plastic in India include:
- Econiture
- Unirec
- Thaely
- Earocycle
- Pluto Intero
India faces several challenges in recycling plastic, including limited segregation at the source, a lack of formal waste collection in many areas, and the prevalence of multi-layer packaging, which is difficult to recycle.
India has implemented policies such as the Extended Producer's Responsibility (EPR) framework, which holds producers accountable for their plastic production and packaging, and banned the use of single-use plastic in 2022. Additionally, innovations in recycling technology and circular economy initiatives are helping to improve the recycling process.
Recycling plastic in India has multiple benefits, including reducing the need for virgin plastic production, conserving energy, reducing waste in landfills and water bodies, and creating new business opportunities.
