From transforming plastic waste into new sustainable products to developing technologies to drive forward recycling, our FINILOOP start-ups play a vital role in helping to create cleaner, plastic waste free cities for all. Under the FINILOOP Plastic Lab – a 14-month incubation initiative for plastic waste start-ups – five of these start-ups now have a chance to take their products and services one step further thanks to being awarded a prototype support grant.
Within our plastic waste management programme, FINILOOP, we believe in the power of entrepreneurship to help solve the plastic pollution crisis, which is why strengthening business is a core pillar of our approach. To boost local circular economies, drive innovation and address gaps in the plastic waste management system we strengthen existing plastic waste enterprises, and through the creation of the FINILOOP Plastic Lab (FPL) provide mentorship to start-ups, who are catalysing solutions to plastic waste.
Over the last 12 months 17 start-ups across the cities of Udaipur and Amritsar have been receiving support through the FPL. After a vigorous jury process, focused on aspects such as the amount of plastic waste being diverted from landfill, employment generated and informal waste worker livelihood improvement, five of these start-ups were selected to receive €3,000 seed funding to help develop their product and service prototypes.
Join us as we showcase and celebrate the innovative solutions these start-ups are developing.
Innovative building materials with Angirus
Angirus based in Udaipur, produces ‘wricks’ (bricks and waste) out of plastic and demolition waste. Through the ecosystem support received through the FINILOOP programme, Angirus has successfully fine-tuned their business model, transitioned to sourcing all raw materials locally and leveraged key connections including investors and industry stakeholders. As a result, they have recycled 50 tonnes of plastic waste, but the biggest difference they have seen is the impact on the ground through FINILOOP’s wider interventions:
“We can see the difference on the ground when we go to vendors to source the raw materials like plastic waste and when we meet with stakeholders like the municipalities and corporates.” – Kunjepreet, joint founder of Angirus
Creating alternatives to plastics with Nariksha Pads
In Udaipur you will also find Nariksa Pads working on alternatives to plastics through producing biodegradable sanitary pads made from agro waste such as rice husks. Over the course of the programme, they have been able to increase production capacity and have received a pilot order for 200 pads helping to divert 200kg of plastic waste from landfills. Alongside this, through seeing the wider impact of FINILOOP, Nariksha has now been inspired to incorporate women’s empowerment into their strategy.
Upcycling with Parichay
Diverting waste from landfill and building livelihoods is at the heart of upcycling start-up Parichay’s business. Together with local artisans they create upcycled home décor products which with the support of FINILOOP has expanded to cover plastic waste, going beyond their initial focus of textile waste. As a result, more than 950kg of plastic waste has been upcycled.
Developing waste reduction technology with SNOH
A number of our start-ups also have a technology focus, including SNOH who has been busy developing an android app for incentivising separation at source. With the support of FINILOOP they are continuing to refine and market this technology and are on their way to improving separation at source and contributing to more effective recycling.
Transforming plastic waste with Ecoconscious
Inspired to clear up their community, in Amritsar you will find Econscious giving plastic waste a new lease of life by processing and turning it into a range of products from park benches to coasters. They source their raw material from waste workers, colleges and corporates across the city and with the support of FINILOOP are expanding both their supplier and customer network, and are hopeful for the journey ahead:
“We are taking it one step at a time and are excited not just for the grant but for further learnings” – Sonal, co-founder Econscious
In December each of these start-ups will present the progress they have made as part of a dedicated Demo Day so stay tuned! Alongside this they will continue to receive incubation support and three further start-ups will be selected from the our third programme city Jaipur to receive this special grant.
Start-ups are just one of the key stakeholders we are connecting to help free cities from plastic waste, meet some of the others here!
