How garbage changed a couple's life

Brut India

This Delhi couple has recycled over 3,50,000 kg of plastic waste, but what are they turning it into?

Transcript

00:00Initially, when we wanted to build our boats, we were not able to find a machine.

00:03So, we had to develop our own machine.

00:05Neither of us had any business background.

00:08We had a technical background.

00:09We were engineers.

00:10We learnt how to do business, how to flow money.

00:13We learnt financials from ourselves.

00:15Till now, we have recycled 3.5 lakh plastic and made products.

00:18Hi, Brute India.

00:20Welcome to E-Conscious Workshop.

00:21Our journey started around 4 years ago during the COVID-19 pandemic.

00:33But, if we look at our actual journey, it was way before this.

00:37When we were doing our Master's from NIT, Kurukshetra.

00:39There was an interesting thing that we went to a trek in Himachal.

00:46There, we found a lot of plastic waste wrappers and everything lying there.

00:50I think that was the first time when I got into this.

00:56Why do people throw this?

00:57They are educated and everything.

00:58There was an artwork made out of this waste.

01:03It had ink on it and a lot of plastic waste was used.

01:06It was done by some organisation.

01:07How do you source all of these plastic materials that you get?

01:10Whether the wrappers, the bottles or the bottle caps?

01:13We have partnered with a few NGOs.

01:16We have partnered with MCDs.

01:19We collect waste from schools and colleges.

01:21It is source-segregated and clean waste.

01:23We bring it to our facility and process it.

01:27When we need more plastic, we purchase it from aggregators.

01:36We have a network of rag pickers.

01:39We started with a very small product.

01:43We are very proud to say that we have recycled 3.5 lakh plastic and made products.

01:51We have installed more than 2000 benches in the public domain.

01:55We have worked with very esteemed clients.

01:58That is also a very good factor that shows that we have achieved some growth and validated the idea.

02:04What was the first plastic product that you made?

02:06A plastic-free product, if I would say.

02:08I think the first product was a bookshelf.

02:11We had a very small shop in our house.

02:14It was a very small shop.

02:16We just made a small machine.

02:18We made small boards in it.

02:20When we started, our whole idea was to make boards and sell them to furniture and interior designers.

02:26So that they can utilize it in their process.

02:29But because we started during COVID, we were not able to reach out to more of those target customers that we were thinking at that point of time.

02:36So we decided to make something ourselves.

02:39Let's see how the general audience perceives it.

02:42So we started making bookshelves, shelves, planters, those kind of coasters.

02:47Very small products.

02:49And we started posting them on Instagram and our website.

02:51We actually got a very...

02:53I mean, very soon, I think within a week or so, we got our first order.

02:58I think 3-4 months after that, we made these dustbins.

03:03We made these benches.

03:04So when we shared it on social media, it got really different sort of, you know...

03:10The target segment was very different.

03:13NGOs reached out to us that this product is really nice.

03:16We'd like to use this for one of our public projects or awareness projects or something like that.

03:21So that's how we got into this public domain segment.

03:24In which we make benches, dustbins, artworks, and any other customized products like tree guards.

03:30So most of these products are being used either in government projects or CSR projects.

03:35Which can create awareness.

03:36Once the product is ready, initially how did we do it?

03:39We made our social media pages because we felt that the audience we are looking for, that is there.

03:44In these few words, how would you explain your journey from a bookshelf to a bench that you're sitting on?

03:49Neither of us had any business background.

03:51We had a technical background, we were engineers.

03:54So slowly, we learnt how to do business, how to flow money.

03:59We learnt financials, how to run a business. We learnt all of this by ourselves.

04:04One of the challenges was that when we initially had to make our boards, we were not able to find a machine.

04:10So we had to develop our own machine to make the board.

04:13And then we were just two people, now we are a team of almost ten people working in the company.

04:18Do you think that you are able to earn more as compared to what you would have earned from an engineering job?

04:48So how does it feel being a woman entrepreneur in India?

05:19If you want to get a debt from a bank, you will not be able to get that if you are a solo woman founder.

05:28But it is helpful for me that I have Vaibhav with me.

05:31And both of us combined, each of us are bringing our positive skill sets into the business.

05:37And we are able to reach out to a certain place where we are currently.

05:40But as a solo woman founder, I don't think I would be able to reach to this milestone where we are currently.

05:49Hi, Broke India!

05:50This is for you!

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