Zero Waste Day: Delhi-Based Startup To Get Rs 1.38 cr From Govt For Waste To Fibre Project

Old problems require modern solutions. Many innovative startups around the world are solving longstanding problems by providing end-to-end solution for waste management. The startups are exploring prospects in fresh domains. Execution of a business idea needs support in terms of technology and finance. The government is focused towards helping such startups which have innovative indigenous technologies to address these issues.

Ahead of the International Day of Zero Waste, the Technology Development Board (TDB), a statutory body of Department of Science & Technology, Government of India, signed its first agreement with a Delhi-based startup working on converting agricultural waste into fibre.

Govt To Fund Cos Converting Waste to Wealth

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has a vision to make all the cities ‘Garbage Free’ under Swachh Bharat Mission. Under the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0, the Technology Development Board, invited applications from Indian companies having innovative/indigenous technologies at commercialization stage in waste management domain. 

The call for proposal aimed at making Indian cities waste free and at the same time generate wealth from waste through technology interventions i.e., ‘Waste to Wealth’.

Many Startup Ideas Remained Unexploited Due to Lack of Technology

Many of the Start-ups are venturing into fresh domains, and therefore seeks financial assistance to accomplish their endeavours. The Ministry of Science & Technology said in a release that the startup Sahi Fab is one such start-up which is developing Fibre from agricultural waste that remained unexploited due to lack of technology.

“Today, Technology Development Board signed the first agreement under the initiative. TDB penned the agreement with M/s Sahi Fab Private Limited, New Delhi for development & commercialisation of ‘Agricultural waste of stem materials like industrial hemp, flax and nettle etc. into Fibre’. The board has pledged a support of Rs 1.38 crores out of the total project cost of Rs 2.08 crores,” the release added.

Speaking on the occasion, Rajesh Kumar Pathak, IP&TAFS, Secretary, TDB said that, “TDB has been a forerunner in helping innovative indigenous technologies, aimed at improving the ease of living for common man. Many of the Start-ups are venturing into fresh domains, and therefore seeks financial assistance to accomplish their endeavours. M/s Sahi Fab is one such start-up which is developing Fibre from agricultural waste that remained unexploited due to lack of technology.”

How Is Agri-Waste Converted Into Fibre?

Industrial Hemp (iHemp) is made up of varieties of Cannabis Sativa that `contain less than 0.3% Tetra hydro cannabinol (THC). The small brown seeds (iHemp) contain a rich nutritional food containing protein, fibre, and healthy fatty acids, including omega-3s and omega-6s that help in reducing symptoms of several diseases, improving the health of the heart, skin, and joints.

In addition, the stem holds various properties such as antibacterial properties, prevention of UV rays owing to its composition consisting of cellulose, hemicellulose, pectin, lignin etc. Whereas, it consumes less amount of water in cultivation as compared to cotton, emits less carbon dioxide, uses less energy and better carbon sequestration than cotton and polyester fibre. 

The Ministry highlighted that due to lack of technology this idea remained unexploited, despite being a good source of sustainable, environment friendly fibre and also one of the strongest and most durable natural textile fibres.

Fibre From Stem Will Contribute To Circular Economy 

To create wealth out of the unexploited waste, The startup Sahi Fab has come up with an innovative solution by manufacturing fibre /fibrous products.

The startup used the steps of Decortication, Wet Processing and Fibre Processing to convert the waste into fibre.

In Decortication, the hemp stem is processed through the indigenously developed Decorticator machine. Through the Wet Processing, the extracted fibre is treated with alkali/ enzymes using high temperature high pressure (HTHP) machines. Lastly, through the Fibre Processing, the treated fibre is individualized through carding and can be processed through different routes, one of them being needle punching (non- woven).

The extracted fibre from the stem will not only contribute to circular economy and but also upsurge the income of the farmers by 7 times approx., the Ministry said in the release.

What & When is International Day of Zero Waste

The International Day of Zero Waste aims to promote sustainable consumption and production patterns, support the societal shift towards circularity and raise awareness about how zero-waste initiatives contribute to the advancement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Several cities will be organizing ward-wide cleanliness drives and zero waste events to commemorate the International Day of Zero Waste on March 30, 2023, as declared by the United Nations General Assembly in December 2022. Zero waste activities could range from melas of zero waste products created by women SHG members to the setting up of zero waste food stalls, ‘waste to wealth’ competitions, nukkad nataks, etc.