Driven by a desire to combat plastic pollution, brothers Vikash Kumar, an IIT postgraduate, and Rahul Vashukhi, a NIFT graduate, embarked on a journey that began with a homemade machine and a mission to collect discarded materials from their community.
They went door to door collecting people’s trash to gather raw materials. Despite facing ridicule for their “kabadiwala kaam” (ragpicker work), they persevered. The duo was determined to make a difference, and there was no turning back.
With no funding, the brothers engineered their own machines to process hard-to-recycle plastic waste from electronics. Their process involves cutting, washing, and transforming plastic into sheets that resemble premium marble. These sheets are waterproof, termite-proof, and scratch-resistant, making them ideal for sustainable furniture.
The siblings have turned 100 tonnes of plastic waste into stunning, eco-friendly furniture. Today, they partner with renowned brands like Tata, Adidas, and BMW, proving that sustainability can be both stylish and impactful. Their innovative efforts have even led to the design of an entire school using their products.
What started as a humble venture with a Rs 10,000 machine has blossomed into ‘Minus Degre’, a thriving business, generating Rs 10 lakh in monthly revenue.
Vikash and Rahul are not just cleaning the planet — they are redefining the future of sustainable furniture, one piece at a time.
Edited by Khushi Arora
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