As the world is grappling with the environmental impact of single-use plastic waste, two youngsters in Kerala are making a big difference through their startup by transforming discarded single-use plastic into modular furniture.
Driven by their mutual concern for the environment, Alvin George, 29, and Sidharth A K, 29, who accidentally met at an official function two years back, have launched Carbon & Whale, a clean-tech startup in Kochi focusing on tackling plastic pollution head-on.
Though Alvin is an engineering graduate and Sidharth a business administration graduate, their shared vision of a cleaner planet and their frustration with the lack of practical solutions for single-use plastic waste management, made them team up with Sooraj Verma, a professor at the Central Institute of Plastics Engineering & Technology (CIPET), to come up with a solution to tackle rising single-use plastic waste, which either ends up in landfills or is burned by people.
“We decided to launch the clean-tech startup with a mission to provide a permanent solution to the plastic waste menace. Though recycling of plastic waste is happening, it’s not the perfect sustainable solution. By transforming single-use plastic into modular furniture, we are ensuring that they get a life span of 15 to 20 years and they are again utilised for other productive purposes, ensuring that they don’t end up as waste,” Alvin told “Open Digest.”
Since its inception, they have converted over two tonnes of plastic waste into stylish, durable furniture, ranging from stools and benches. By repurposing single-use plastic, they prevent it from ending up in landfills or polluting the oceans, providing a viable alternative to traditional disposal methods.
Their modular furniture, designed to be both functional and eco-friendly, has quickly gained popularity among environmentally conscious consumers. “We have been able to partner with several corporates, which, as part of their social responsibility, have provided funds to convert single-use plastic waste into furniture for use in public spaces like parks,” Alvin added.
Their startup generated a revenue of Rs 69,447 in 2022-2023 and saw remarkable growth, reaching Rs five crore in 2024-2025 through its sustainability-driven initiatives.
“We have incubated our startup at CIPET and developed the technology to convert the plastic waste into furniture with the help of Professor Sooraj Verma. We’ve set an ambitious goal to convert one million kg of plastic waste into modular furniture. We’re working hand-in-hand with local communities, volunteers, and partners to make our surroundings free from single-use plastic waste,” he added.
