Our Journey: From Plastic Waste to Purpose
A look at how our simple idea of turning trash into treasure evolved into a national movement for sustainable public infrastructure.
A proud moment for us, winning the UNDP YouthColab challenge for our work in the circular economy. This recognition fuels our motivation to keep innovating.
This video captures the moment we received the grant and felicitation at the Youth Co:Lab event. Every milestone is a reminder to stay true to our vision.
Our co-founder was honored to be among 75 women entrepreneurs to meet the Honorable President Smt. Droupdi Murmu and UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath at the Global Investors Summit.
We had a wonderful experience showcasing our work to the Honorable LG of Delhi, Shri Vinai Kumar Saxena, and receiving his valuable feedback on our initiatives.
Our co-founder, Sonal Shukla, was invited to speak at TEDxVivekanandSchool, where she shared our story of turning an environmental burden into a valuable resource.
Our work was featured in HT City on World Environment Day, highlighting our model of recycling 500kg of plastic per month from Delhi-NCR to create public utility resources.
We were featured in Navbharat Times for our participation in the G20 Startup20 summit, recognizing our efforts in creating useful products from plastic waste.
Seeing our startup's journey and recycled plastic benches featured in SPAN Magazine was a great feeling of recognition for our hard work in reducing plastic pollution.
Sonal speaking at the American Center in New Delhi after completing a 9-week pre-incubation program with ACIR Nexus, a U.S. Embassy initiative.
A collage celebrating four years of our journey. It's a glimpse into the impact, growth, and learning we've experienced while building Econscious.
About Our Journey & Recognition
It is one thing to talk about sustainability, but another to see it take shape in real public spaces. Every milestone you see here—from UNDP recognition to meeting dignitaries—represents the hundreds of thousands of kilograms of plastic we have diverted from landfills, not just a pat on the back for us.
Shuruat hui thi (It started) with a simple realization on a mountain trek: plastic isn't just waste; it is a resource we are failing to use. When we founded Econscious, our goal was never just to sell products. We wanted to close the loop on plastic pollution in a way that people could actually touch and feel.
The Growth
What began as making small decor pieces from recycled scraps evolved into crafting industrial-grade benches, changing rooms for large-scale events like the Maha Kumbh, and public infrastructure across India. We have learned that if you want to make a big impact, you have to think big.
Why Recognition Matters
Being recognized by the UNDP, meeting the President, and showcasing our work at G20 summits hasn't just been about the headlines. These moments have validated our 'trash-to-treasure' process and helped us bridge the gap between niche sustainability and mass-market public utility. We’ve gone from recycling 500kg of waste per month to over 1,500kg, and every new installation—whether it's a park bench in a Delhi SDM office or a custom installation—helps us prove that public spaces can look good while doing good.
Moving Forward
We haven't had a viral moment that changed everything overnight. We have just kept showing up, refining our 'confetti' terrazzo-finish boards, and making sure our benches can handle everything from Himalayan weather to urban foot traffic. If you are looking to integrate sustainability into your project, we are here to collaborate.
Econscious
Sonal and Vaibhav here. We started Econscious on a mountain trek, frustrated by plastic pollution, and turned that frustration into benches, booths, and public installations across India. We’re just a couple of entrepreneurs building a circular economy, one recycled sheet at a time.
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