Kerala Duo Transforms Plastic Waste into Multi-Crore Furniture Business (image- facebook/carbonandwhale)
When the world grapples with environmental issues, two friends from Kerala have turned plastic waste into a multi-crore future business. The two youngsters in Kerala had started a start-up company where they transformed discarded single-use plastics into modular furniture.
Alvin George and Siddarth AK, 29-year-old met during an official function two years back. Driven by a mutual concern for the environment, the duo has launched Carbon & Whale, a clean-tech startup in Kochi focusing on tackling plastic pollution head-on.
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Though Alvin has come from an engineering background and Siddharth has a business background, they both shared a vision to have a cleaner planet. 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). After several brainstorming sessions, the trio came up with a solution to tackle rising single-use plastic waste which mostly ends up in landfills or is burned by people.
Alvin said that they 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,” he said to Open Digest.
Ever since the launch, they have converted over two tonnes of plastic waste into stylish, durable furniture. With the method of repurposing single-use plastics, they have prevented the plastics from ending up in landfills or polluting the oceans by providing a viable alternative to traditional disposal methods.
“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.
As per the Open Digest report, the startup was able to generate 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.
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“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,” Alvin said.
