Think about beginning your day with an fragrant and foamy espresso in a takeaway cup. Now, what if I instructed you that the cup is definitely made out of that very same espresso residue? Unbelievable? Not likely!
That is simply one of many many modern options altering the way in which we take into consideration waste. In India, two younger entrepreneurs are main this transformation with their enterprise — ‘ The Mend Packaging’. In 2020, they based The Mend Packaging, a bootstrapped firm pioneering biodegradable and sustainable packaging options.
By innovating with supplies like mushrooms, banana peels, tomatoes, and low waste, The Mend Packaging isn’t just changing conventional plastic however redefining how companies strategy sustainability.
The beginning of The Mend Packaging
Rhea Kothari and Rishika Reddy’s journey into sustainable packaging was pushed by a mixture of curiosity and concern. “Through the lockdown, with everybody counting on deliveries, we observed a surge in packaging waste. Large, non-eco-friendly bins had been getting used even for small objects, creating mountains of trash,” remembers Rhea.
Learning international sustainability developments, she recognised India’s dire want for alternate options to single-use plastic. Partnering with Rishika, who shared an identical imaginative and prescient, the duo launched into a mission to introduce supplies that might break down naturally with out harming the atmosphere.
Ranging from scratch, they spent months researching and experimenting with eco-friendly supplies. “Since my household has been concerned within the printing trade, we’ve had conversations in regards to the packaging trade and what has been lacking within the area,” shares Rishika.
“We wished to fill that hole the place packaging not solely served its goal but in addition left no hint behind,” provides Rhea. Their work ultimately led them to discover pure fibres, agricultural waste, and fungi-based packaging that decomposes inside weeks.
“To be trustworthy, we initially wished to create extra consciousness and training about sustainable packaging strategies,” Rhea admits. “However I’m completely happy we ventured into the manufacturing facet as effectively.”
Greater than only a packaging firm
The Mend Packaging is greater than only a producer of sustainable supplies — it’s a full-fledged service supplier within the packaging house. “We provide consulting, design and branding, and manufacturing companies, serving to companies transition to eco-friendly alternate options at their very own tempo,” says Rhea.
“Since 70% of shoppers resolve to purchase a product based mostly on its seems to be, we’ve taken immense care within the look of our packaging,” she continues. Whereas sustainable packaging is commonly anticipated to look uninteresting and brown, The Mend Packaging embraces colors and textures to supply a novel but useful look.
With a small but environment friendly workforce of 10 of their Mumbai workplace, together with technical consultants from IIT and skilled professionals in packaging, they supply end-to-end options tailor-made to shopper wants.
The corporate has labored with over 280 distributors, collaborating commonly with 50, and operates a robust provide community throughout Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Delhi. “Now we have developed over 70 product classes whereas changing over 5 lakh non-recyclable delivery bins and over 80,000 non-recyclable plastic baggage.”
A few of their purchasers embody Daughter Earth, Juicy Chemistry, No Nasties, Sincere Milk Co., and lots of extra from industries similar to meals, hospitality, jewelry, and cosmetics.
Innovating with nature
Probably the most outstanding improvements is using mycelium — the basis construction of fungi. This materials, typically dubbed ‘nature’s plastic,’ is light-weight, sturdy, and absolutely compostable. Moreover, they’ve built-in banana peels, tomatoes, and low waste, lowering industrial by-products that might in any other case contribute to landfill waste.
The corporate’s options are actually being adopted by small companies and sustainable manufacturers trying to decrease their carbon footprint. “Sustainability is a journey. It’s unrealistic from the lens of price to ask a small enterprise to modify to sustainable packaging utterly,” Rhea says.
“Our consulting companies assist purchasers perceive if they’re utilizing extra packaging than required for his or her product. This additionally helps in optimising assets and choosing the proper materials for his or her model,” explains Rhea. “We suggest tomato or banana leather-based for jewelry and equipment, whereas for perfumes, we recommend mycelium,” shares Rishika.
“We continually work on analysis and growth, which helps us establish methods to use these sustainable supplies in sturdy packaging. These strategies are supplied to the distributors who implement them successfully,” provides Rishika, emphasising the significance of high quality management.
Challenges and breakthroughs
Constructing a enterprise within the sustainability sector wasn’t with out hurdles. As a women-led startup, Rhea and Rishika initially confronted scepticism from purchasers. “We needed to show that our options weren’t simply ‘idealistic’ however commercially viable and sturdy,” says Rishika.
“We had been fortunate sufficient to get our first shopper, Plier Designs, three months after beginning our enterprise. We made sustainable packaging for an equipment model, and that gave us the arrogance to take this additional,” shares Rhea.
“It was our validation that companies are able to embrace sustainability if given the correct alternate options,” Rhea notes. With a 2x year-on-year development price, the corporate has been in a position to generate constant income whereas increasing its impression.
Ladies in sustainability
As a women-led firm in a largely male-dominated trade, The Mend Packaging is breaking extra than simply environmental obstacles. Rhea and Rishika actively conduct webinars and knowledge-sharing periods in entrepreneurship and sustainability.
With certifications from the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and the Worldwide Organisation for Standardisation (ISO), Rhea emphasises, “Sustainability isn’t nearly supplies; it’s about empowering individuals to drive change.”
Wanting ahead, the corporate goals to develop its product line, integrating extra domestically sourced biodegradable supplies. They’re additionally engaged on making their options extra reasonably priced for small companies, guaranteeing that sustainability isn’t just an possibility for the privileged few.
With India’s rising emphasis on eco-conscious insurance policies and shopper demand shifting towards greener alternate options, The Mend Packaging stands on the forefront of a revolution. For Rhea Kothari and Rishika Reddy, sustainability isn’t just a enterprise — it’s a motion that’s right here to remain.
As extra companies embrace sustainable packaging, may The Mend Packaging’s imaginative and prescient reshape the way forward for packaging in India?
Go to their website to know extra.
Edited by Megha Chowdhury; All photos courtesy The Mend Packaging
