Sustainability has to be a way of life to be a way of business – Anand Mahindra.
Fast fashion is doing a number on the environment and while the business sector is a behemoth that cannot be stopped without the conscious effort of every single person that consumes it. Fast everything, in fact, is making our world that much more unsustainable and polluted to boot. There are a few Indian startups that have taken it upon themselves to build a sustainable ecosystem of buying and have also contributed to employment.
Rescript
Founded by two Christ Church alumni, Rescript attempts to bridge the gap between sustainability and the corporate world. Focussing on basic stationery like notebooks, journals, copier paper, pencils and pens, Rescript is keeping it simple and close to basics. Tasteful brown paper bound notebooks and pens and pencils made from recycled newspapers scream eco-friendly, but in a nice way.
The good part about these products is they aren’t too expensive when compared to non-eco-friendly products.
One of the biggest deterrents when it comes to buying green products is the cost. They usually tend to be on the higher price spectrum and so become out of reach for most.
Rescript has priced its products well. 500 sheets of 75 GSM copier paper cost about Rs 345 which is approximately the amount you would pay for non-recycled paper.
The site is clean, minimalist and easy to use. They haven’t gone to town with over the top banners trying to convince you to make greener choices. It’s simple, informative and effective.
Unirec
Proudly wearing the “Made in India” tag, Unirec was founded in 2021 and focuses on transforming plastic bottles into sustainable clothing, uniforms, and workwear. Using PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) to make wrinkle free- eco-friendly T-shirts, blazers and sleeveless jackets Unirec’s processes reduce carbon emissions and ensure minimal waste.
With more than half a million plastic bottles recycled and counting, Unirec seems to be taking on the recycled clothes industry with breathable fabric in leaps and bounds. The site is easy to navigate and is quite user-friendly as well. The prices could come across as a bit steep and the styles restrictive but we look forward to what they have in store next.
Thaely
Pronounced like the Hindi word for bag, Thaely is founded by Ashay Bhave and produces eco-friendly sneakers using waste plastic bags. He invented ThaelyTex, a leather alternative created exclusively from discarded plastic bags. The brand emphasises minimal chemical use and no toxic byproducts during manufacturing, making its sneakers both stylish and environmentally conscious.
The fabric and laces of each pair of sneakers is made using ten plastic bags and 12 plastic bottles. Vegan glue is used for binding, and vegan detergents are used for sanitization earning the company a PETA certification and the Best Sneaker Award from PETA in 2021. At Rs 8000 per pair, the sneakers aren’t exactly cheap but they definitely are sustainable.
The Second Wind
This Gurugram-based design studio focuses on interior design and boutique furniture integrating old-fashioned design style with modern taste and usage. Quirky, colourful and gorgeous, the furniture options range from side-tables to benches salvaged and repurposed from their previous life.
Old tyres are made into pouffes and tables while family cribs are made into bright and lively bookshelves. If boho, eclectic, eco-friendly and one-of-a-kind is what you’re looking for, give The Second Wind a shot.
reCharkha
With bags, games, wine holders and even cushions and home decor in its portfolio, reCharkha, founded by Amita Deshpande, upcycles plastic waste using traditional handloom and charkha techniques.
Based in Pune, reCharkha employs local artisans and waste pickers, promoting eco-friendly craftsmanship while creating employment opportunities in rural areas. Their gifting solutions page gives you good insight into how much livelihood each corporate gifting consignment gave their karigars and how many plastic bags and wrappers were used for each order.
EcoKaari
With one of the biggest portfolios of products EcoKaari has been at this for a long time. Bags, wallets, seed pencils, cutlery holders, wine holders, diary covers, dining table sets, gym bags, laptop bags, keychains and home decor find place on this site. The Pune-based brand employs traditional Indian weavers, preserving ancient handloom techniques while addressing modern environmental concerns.
The price points are reasonable and they also have brand-specific products. Eg. a range of products called “Maggi”, so everything under that umbrella is made from Maggi wrappers. They also have a Corporate and Personal gifting section with some pretty big brands as clients.
