At a time when plastic is becoming a global issue, a Rajasthan-based startup is finding a business model out of it. The startup ‘Trash to Treasure’ is, in fact, led by plastic. The 17-year-old Aditya Banger, who hails from a family that runs a textile business, is the brain behind this venture. As the name suggests, the startup recycles plastic bottles and covers into clothes.
Aditya, who was a Class XII student at Mayo College in Rajasthan, started the business in January 2021. Daily, they create clothes by recycling about 10 tonnes of plastic. The process of becoming clothes takes one to two days. However, he claims that the final product is stronger and beautiful than cotton.
Two years ago, Aditya went on a business trip to China along with his uncle who owns Kanchan India Limited. The journey was to see new technologies in the textile sector. In the journey, he saw a big unit that converts plastic waste into the fabric. Aditya realised that this not only decreases waste being littered into landfills but also creates quality products, providing employment locally.
Upon his return to India, he decided to start a similar venture. Along with the help of a foreign company, he started a unit in Bhilwara. The financial support for the project was given by the parent company Kanchan India Limited.
In January, the unit started collecting plastic waste. First, it bought PET grade plastic from regional centres for Rs 40. Aditya says the plastic sent to the unit will be cleaned there before recycling.
If you want to support Trash To Treasure by contributing PET grade plastic, visit their Instagram page. The startup shows that if the idea is unique, even waste would bring money.
