From storing water to juices and numerous different each day necessities, plastic containers have turn into ubiquitous in our environment. Regardless of India’s ban on single-use plastic, we see little change within the quantity of plastic waste in landfills. Whereas many states have enforced bans on single-use plastic, plastic water bottles stay a typical supply of plastic waste ending up in landfills.
Based on a report by Moneycontrol, “Roughly 2.8 lakh tonnes of plastic bottle waste goes uncollected yearly. The environmental affect is critical. Macroplastics, together with PET, typically clog sewage techniques in city and rural areas, pollute rivers, lakes, and seashores, and degrade the aesthetic and ecological worth of vacationer locations and landscapes.”
To fight the escalating challenge of plastic waste, many people and changemakers have devised numerous options. Amongst these innovators is Nikhil Kumar of Greenevon Bio Bottles, who has pioneered a bottle constructed from sugarcane!
“The bottle is 100% biodegradable and 100% pure made utilizing sugarcane. These bottles are setting pleasant and solely take 180 days to degrade when uncovered to moisture and excessive temperatures,” Nikhil tells The Higher India.
So how did this innovator innovate a bottle utilizing a plant? We have been as intrigued as you’re.
‘It’s my dream to make the world greener’
Born and raised in Delhi, Nikhil at all times harboured a ardour for enterprise. After finishing his commencement, he resolved to embark on an entrepreneurial journey of his personal.
“This isn’t my first enterprise into the enterprise world. I’ve at all times been pushed to create one thing that’s uniquely mine. Initially, I ventured into the espresso business, adopted by a stint within the clothes enterprise, earlier than transitioning into eco-friendly ventures,” he shares.
Like many people, Nikhil grew up surrounded by the prevalent use of plastic bottles. “It wasn’t an in a single day realisation, however I’ve at all times been aware of environmental points for so long as I can recall. Nevertheless, when it got here to taking motion, I felt a way of goal,” he explains.
Nikhil typically stumbled upon articles highlighting the escalating plastic waste disaster within the nation. “I grew to become more and more conscious of the issue, and as an entrepreneur, I felt compelled to hunt an answer,” he asserts.
Whereas Nikhil acknowledges that there are a couple of different choices to plastic, he was decided to develop a product that resembled plastic in look and affordability however was environmentally pleasant.
“I needed to take a break from my earlier startup and focus solely on discovering the suitable different,” he says. So, in 2021, he determined to promote his startup and focus absolutely on analysis.
He delved into studying about alternate options that have been presently obtainable within the nation and all over the world. “There are alternate options like copper, bamboo, and numerous types of wooden that persons are utilizing as an alternative of plastic. Nevertheless, I realised that these alternate options have their very own drawbacks — they’re costly for widespread use and are typically heavyweight. These points pose logistical challenges for producers wanting to make use of them in packaging,” he notes.
Nikhil determined to search for alternate options that have been lighter in weight and sturdier in nature.
Discovering the suitable area of interest
In 2021, he co-founded Greenevon Bio Bottles together with Chintan Prajapati.
“Chintan joined me halfway by my analysis. Whereas I used to be assured in my path, I needed to pay attention solely on analysis and sought somebody who may successfully market the product. Chintan was the proper match for this function, and our duties are divided alongside comparable traces,” he shares.
Sitting throughout from me, holding a bottle that resembled a typical single-use plastic bottle — with the phrases ‘I’m a bottle however I’m not plastic’ printed on it — Nikhil is assured that the bottle will decompose in nature inside six months or 180 days.
“You possibly can faucet the bottle, and it’ll sound like plastic; you possibly can contact it, you possibly can really feel it — it appears similar. The one distinction is that it’s biodegradable, plant-based, and environmentally pleasant,” he says.
Talking concerning the materials and the manufacturing course of, Nikhil explains, “Throughout my analysis, I explored how crops might be utilised to create numerous supplies. Simply as crops can be utilized to make leather-based, I used to be investigating comparable prospects once I stumbled upon the exceptional properties of sugarcane.”
“Sugarcane possesses an unimaginable stretch ratio and sturdiness, and can be made clear. The mix of polycarbonate from the plant and starch varieties the uncooked materials for the bottles,” he elaborates.
It took Nikhil practically two and a half years to refine the bottles to their current state. “At present, the bottles may be moulded into numerous shapes, able to holding each liquid and strong meals, and may face up to totally different temperatures,” he concludes.
Nevertheless, this stage was achieved after plenty of trial and error. “The largest hurdle that I confronted whereas regulation designing these bottles was making them clear underneath totally different temperatures and environments. The fabric reacted in a different way to the solar, chilly, and rain, and it was a problem to stabilise it,” shares Nikhil.
The bottles can maintain liquids corresponding to water and juices, semi-liquids, pharma merchandise, dairy merchandise, in addition to strong meals objects. They are often formed and moulded in any type corresponding to containers.
“The three key elements that the bottle brings to the desk are — It’s 100% degradable, it’s steady underneath 55-degree Celsius temperatures, and it has zero polycarbonate leaking,” he provides.
Relating to the affordability of the bottles, he explains, “Something produced in smaller portions tends to be barely costlier. Whereas plastic bottles are very low cost, we’re striving to make our product extra reasonably priced. At present, our bottles are practically eight instances costlier than single-use plastic bottles.”
“We’re involved with many eco-conscious firms, like ours, who’re keen on utilising our product. The area of interest we’ve recognized includes people targeted on each the price and sustainability facets of the product,” he provides.
Reflecting on his journey up to now, Nikhil says, “Once I began, I approached it with an innovator’s mindset. If I had been overly involved concerning the affordability and marketplace for the product, it could have been difficult for me to concentrate on the product itself. My motivation was to create one thing eco-conscious, and I left the remainder to destiny at the moment. It was the fervour to innovate that saved me going.”
The corporate is presently within the manufacturing stage and is aiming to launch the product in Indian markets inside the subsequent 4 months.
When you want to know extra about these distinctive plastic-like merchandise, you possibly can attain out to the crew right here.
(Edited by Pranita Bhat; All photos credit score: Greenevon Bottles)
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