Shashank Nimkar, founder of Earth Tatva Multiple startups are applying innovation to address various aspects of sustainability and pollution, and creating new-age products with multiple use cases. Read about some key companies here. A rchaeology has shown us that ceramics don’t biodegrade for centuries. Ceramic industries today are facing the daunting challenges of what to do with their production rejects being landfilled over decades,” says Shashank Nimkar, founder of Earth Tatva. Related stories India has to create its own climate solutions: Better Capital's Vaibhav Domkundwar Indra Water: Treating wastewater efficiently Banyan Nation: Recycling at scale At Earth Tatva, pre-consumer landfilled ceramic rejects are procured from industries and turned into reusable material from which any existing ceramic products can be made. “Our patented recycled ceramic material, TatvaMix, reduces mining for natural resources by 60 percent, is 35 percent stronger than conventional ceramics, uses lesser energy to fire, has high quality aesthetics and is 100 percent recyclable. Essentially, doing more and better with less,” says Nimkar. This initiative is directly supporting UN SDG-12, which is Responsible Consumption and Production. Nimkar has been recognised as ‘Circular Economy Pioneer’ by Ellen MacArthur Foundation in 2019, and was the national winner of the James Dyson award, and the Circular Economy Challenge by Ekonnect in 2020. Since Earth Tatva is launching a direct-to-consumer channel, there are no B2B orders yet. However, it has received inquiries from companies such as Kohler, Fabindia, H&M Home, Sangath Architects, Reliance Industries and Anthropologie. “As it is an IP-based material, it is challenging to be able to outsource production of finished goods to existing manufacturers. Streamlining in-house production at a relatively smaller scale is weighing down progress,” says Nimkar. “We have figured things out for our context and are now moving ahead to streamline our in-house production until we are able to find a way to collaborate with existing manufacturers without jeopardising our IP.” However, Nimkar is optimistic. He feels that the market is promising for brands like his. Consumers are aware, and the social and environmental impact is a latent need. “So far, this is the best time to put our innovation out into the market to strengthen the circular Indian industrial ecosystem and also globally as we scale up,” says Nimkar.
Click here to see Forbes India's comprehensive coverage on the Covid-19 situation and its impact on life, business and the economy
Check out our end of season subscription discounts with a Moneycontrol pro subscription absolutely free. Use code EOSO2021. Click here for details.
(This story appears in the 03 June, 2022 issue of Forbes India. To visit our Archives, click here.)
For hassle free instant subscription, just give your number and email id and our customer care agent will get in touch with you
click here to Subscribe Online
Photo of the day: All eyes on you
Our top reads of the week
Sex toys are going green
Big tech is getting clobbered on Wall Street. It's a good time for them
How does it end? Fissures emerge over what constitutes victory in Ukraine
From Japan to Zambia, the push for paid menstrual leave
Taiwan man invents stroller for fish to 'explore other worlds'
Indian film industry seeks new horizons in Cannes
Tether launches a stablecoin pegged to Pesos on Ethereum, Tron and Polygon
Barcelona recruits sheep and goats to fight wildfires
Who is protected against monkeypox?
Twitter's chief tries staying the course as Elon Musk upends plans
Fed Vice chair speaks about the potential of CBDCs and the future of stablecoins
JPMorgan trials private blockchain for collateral settlement
Of superheroes and the threat of a global recession