Top 5 Sustainable Indian Startups: Building a Greener & Safer Tomorrow
An Overview:
- Learn how Phool is sustainably converting temple waste into bamboo-less incense sticks, havan cups, puja samagri and more.
- Delve into the rich heritage of Ayurveda with Sadhev, a brand deeply rooted in ancestral Ayurvedic practice. With an innate love for nature, they plant a tree with Prasiddhi Forest Foundation on each product purchase.
- Read the story of Wakao Foods, an Indian food brand making 100% vegan and meatless ready-to-eat products from the superfood jackfruit.
- Meet the brainchild behind BluSmart, a public cab rental company that has managed to save 13000+ tonnes of Co2 emissions by offering clean transportation solutions.
- Explore how Polygon, a blockchain platform is striving to reduce the environmental impact of Ethereum by using a more energy-efficient consensus mechanism.
- Get to know the founders, their vision and the impact created by these Indian startups on the environment.
Imagine a world where innovative startups drive economic growth and prioritize sustainability and environmental well-being.
Today, as we stand at the crossroads of major climate crisis and diminishing resources, the need for sustainable startups has never been more critical. It is time for the youth to step up and take charge, harnessing their entrepreneurial spirit to build a greener and safer future.
Over the past five years, sustainable startups have demonstrated their potential to create positive change. From reducing carbon emissions and promoting renewable energy adoption to revolutionizing waste management, planting more trees, and fostering eco-friendly practices, sustainable startups have been at the forefront of combating environmental challenges.
However, the journey towards sustainability is far from over. It requires a consistent collective effort, innovative vision, and unwavering determination to ensure a harmonious coexistence with our planet. And in this blog today, we are about to explore the top five sustainable Indian startups that exemplify these qualities and showcase their remarkable contributions to building a greener and safer tomorrow.
Top 5 Sustainable Indian Startups
1. PHOOL
(Source: https://www.indianretailer.com)
Phool is an Indian company that has developed a sustainable solution to the problem of temple waste. The company collects flowers from temples in Uttar Pradesh, India, to create products like bamboo less incense sticks, havan cups, pooja samagri, and much more.
Founders
Phool is a brand owned by Kanpur Flowercycling Pvt. Ltd, and co-founded by Ankit Agarwal and Prateek Kumar in 2017. The idea was to stop dumping waste in the rivers of Ganga.
Brand’s Mission & Vission
Phool’s research team discovered that temple flowers contain high levels of pesticides and insecticides. When these flowers reach the river, the chemicals wash off, creating toxic compounds that pose a serious threat to marine life.
From here, the idea of using waste flowers got set rolling. Today, Phool is a company that values sustainability, social responsibility, and innovation.
Unique Sustainable Solutions
Phool’s unique, sustainable solutions include:
- Flowercycling: Phool’s flower-cycling technology is a process that converts temple flowers or dumped flowers into a variety of products, including incense, essential oils, and bio-leather. The flower-cycling process is environmentally friendly and creates jobs for women.
- Biodegradable Packaging: Phool is committed to sustainability by using temple waste to make biodegradable packaging and bio-leathers as an eco-friendly alternative to traditional plastic packaging.
- Social Responsibility: Phool is constantly committed to social responsibility. The company employs women from underprivileged backgrounds and provides them with training and skills development opportunities.
Impact Created
Phool is a shining example of how innovation and social responsibility can go hand-in-hand.
They have curated Florafoam, a product made entirely of flowers that have been curated to be completely biodegradable after use. It serves as an alternative to thermacol, which takes years to decompose.
Today, the brand operates in three cities and has won numerous awards for its sustainability and social impact.
2. SADHEV
(Source: https://so.city/delhi/)
Sadhev‘s Ayurveda brings harmony to body, mind, and soul—by elegantly pouring the science of Ayurveda into every product they create.
Founder
Sadhev is founded by a mother-son duo, Ms Jaya Devi Cholayil and Lasakan Cholayil. Mr Lasakan Cholayil shares “Sadhev is deeply rooted in an ancestral practice that has been passed down through three generations.The treatments and recipes used by Sadhev are based on the expertise of Brahmasree Cholayil Kunju Maami Vaidyar, a widely respected Ayurvedic healer and physician from their family lineage.”
Brand’s Mission & Vision
Sadhev’s mission is to create Ayurvedic personal care products that are both effective and sustainable. The company aims to be India’s leading provider of centuries-old Ayurvedic personal care products free from harmful chemicals and sulfates.
Unique Sustainable Solutions
Sadhev’s unique sustainable solution includes:
- Using pure Ayurvedic ingredients: Sadhev products are made with Ayurvedic recipes made with organic herbs that have been used for centuries for various health benefits.
Impact Created
So far, the company has restricted the use of parabens, sulfates, and chemicals in personal care products, and they are giving back to nature by partnering with Prasiddhi Forest Foundation to help them plant a tree for every purchase their customers make from them.
3. WAKAO FOODS
(Source: https://www.foodtechbiz.com)
Wakao Foods is an Indian food brand that makes special 100% vegan and meatless ready-to-eat products from superfood-jackfruit.
Founder
Sairaj Dhond is the Founder and CEO of Wakao Foods. He began his career as a criminal lawyer and soon realized his true passion was sustainable entrepreneurship. He then devoted himself to creating global brands that support the environment.
In response to the current need for sustainability and veganism, Sairaj set out to create a meat substitute even non-vegetarians would love.
Brand’s Mission & Vission
With Wakao Foods, the founder aims to create awareness about plant-based alternatives and throw light on jackfruits—one of the most wasted fruits in our country.
Unique Sustainable Solutions
Wakao takes pride in producing products that are free from preservatives, ensuring that they are safe and healthy for consumption. With a shelf life of 1 year, these products are designed to give you long-lasting freshness and taste.
And the best part is, you don’t have to worry about refrigeration, making it easy for you to store and enjoy your favourite Wakao products anytime, anywhere.
Impact Created
Wakao Foods has a set of values, which are:
- Supporting indigenous agri-practices.
- Fair prices for farmers.
- Prioritizing top-quality natural produce.
- Bringing it at the best available value for our customers.
They ensure the highest standards of safety & eco-friendly practices in all aspects of their business.
4. BLU SMART
(Source: https://blu-smart.com/)
BluSmart is a public cab rental company that is positively impacting the world. The company is committed to sustainability and clean transportation, helping to create a more sustainable future for India.
Founders
BluSmart was founded in 2019 by Anmol Singh Jaggi, Punit K Goyal, and Puneet Singh Jaggi. The three founders come from engineering and business backgrounds and share a passion for sustainability and clean transportation, which lead to the inception of BluSmart.
Brand’s Mission & Vission
BluSmart’s mission is to make electric mobility accessible, affordable, and convenient for everyone. The company’s vision is to be India’s leading electric mobility solutions provider.
Unique Sustainable Solutions
At present, BlueSmart provides cab services in Gurugram and South Delhi. Users can use the Android or iOS mobile app to book a ride.
BluSmart offers several unique, sustainable solutions, including:
- All-electric fleet: BluSmart’s fleet is made up of all-electric vehicles. This helps to reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
- No Surge Pricing: You won’t have to pay additional fees or charges during peak hours or busy periods because their flat price starts from Rs 149 in Delhi.
Impact Created
BluSmart has already significantly impacted the environment and the Indian transportation sector. Here are some details about their impact:
- Greenhouse Gas Emission: 13,000+ tonnes of CO2 emissions saved.
- No More Cancellations: BluSmart’s team values customers’ time and believes in offering them cancel-free rides. Till now, they have done 5.8 million+ clean rides completed and counting.
5. POLYGON TECHNOLOGY
(Source: https://remote-europe.com/company/polygon-technology)
Polygon, formerly known as Matic Network, is a blockchain platform that aims to create a multi-chain blockchain system compatible with Ethereum.
Founders
Polygon was founded in 2020 by Jaynti Kanani, Sandeep Nailwal, Mihailo Bjelic, and Anurag Arjun. The company is headquartered in Mumbai, India.
Brand’s Mission & Vission
Polygon’s mission is to “build a more scalable and secure Ethereum ecosystem.” The company’s vision is to “make Ethereum the go-to platform for decentralized applications.”
Unique Sustainable Solutions
Polygon offers a uniquely sustainable solution, that is—the polygon technology uses a Proof-of-Stake consensus mechanism, rather than Proof-of-Work.
Proof-of-stake requires less computational power to solve a mathematical problem, it allocates the right to validate transactions across different validators based on the percentage of tokens locked by each validator.
Impact Created
Polygon has already had a significant impact on the Ethereum ecosystem, but they have also helped to reduce the environmental impact of Ethereum by using a more energy-efficient consensus mechanism.
The Future is Sustainable
All the startups mentioned above are continuously impacting the world by implementing sustainable, eco-friendly practices that contribute to a healthier planet and better quality of life for people on this planet.
By prioritizing sustainability, these startups inspire individuals to embrace a sustainable lifestyle and positively impact the world, and we are immensely proud of them!
