Single-Use Plastic into Modular Furniture
Two young entrepreneurs from Kerala, Alvin George and Sidharth A K, founders of Carbon & Whale, are turning discarded plastic into modular furniture. In partnership with Professor Sooraj Verma from the Central Institute of Plastics Engineering & Technology (CIPET) single-use plastic-based modular furniture comes with a lifespan of 15 to 20 years, ensuring it is reused rather than discarded.
Since its inception, Carbon & Whale has repurposed over two tonnes of plastic waste into eco-friendly furniture, including benches and stools. In 2022-2023, the startup generated `69,447 in revenue and is projected to reach `5 crore in 2024-2025, driven by its sustainability-focused initiatives. With an ambitious goal to convert one million kilogramme of plastic waste into furniture, Alvin and Sidharth continue to collaborate with local communities and partners to help reduce plastic pollution.
Recyclable-Non-Recyclable Plastic to Construction Materials
Bangalore-New York headquartered Vee Technologies has partnered with Plastonix Inc., Canada, for specialised technologies to develop a plastic waste recycling system in India. Vee Technologies will design and build the first recycling facility for commercial-scale use in India, and once successful, the joint venture plans to roll out additional plastic recycling programs across the country.
Plastonix’s technology offers a unique solution by chemically recycling all types of plastic, including hard-to-recycle varieties, into durable goods such as construction materials. This addresses a critical gap in current recycling methods, where most plastics are non-recyclable and are either incinerated or repurposed in limited ways.
By repurposing non-recyclable plastics, this partnership aims to reduce waste and create profitable new business models in India’s plastic recycling sector.
