reCharkha: Solving New Problem Using Old Technology
What would be your impulse if you saw beautifully woven handicrafts like bags, purses, table mats, cushion covers, and electronic cases? You will assume it to be machine-made using modern techniques. But what if they are made of garbage?
Yes, garbage! A Pune-based startup, reCharkha, is taking waste management to another level. IT engineer and entrepreneur Amita Deshpande has taken the initiative to upcycle waste plastic into useful and handmade products like bags, baskets, mats, home decor items, and more. She has spent 14 years working in the field of sustainable development. But how is she implementing her vision that no one has ever thought of before?
She came up with an innovative idea of employing India’s classical and traditional methods to solve the problem of waste management, especially plastic waste.
She named her innovation ‘reCharkha’ following Gandhi’s path to freedom and self-reliance. Through reCharkha, many tribal women of Pune are now able to support their families financially while living in their hometown.
The process starts with collecting, cleaning, and cutting plastic waste. It can be plastic bags, gift wraps, food wrappers, cassette tapes, beverage bottles, or detergent bottles. The charkha(spindle) then spins it into yarn. On the spindle, the yarn is woven into the plastic fibre. The fabric is cut and sewed into adorable and captivating handmade items. The whole process is manually done by local artisans. Many Households and organisations are supporting reCharkha in its mission. Nearby households and organisations save their plastic waste and send it to reCharkha to use. People from all over India send them the waste.
Amita’s vision was not limited to preaching people to reduce plastic waste. She built an alternative to educating people, uplifting the lives of tribal people, and changing the deteriorating state of the environment by transforming garbage into masterpieces.
Her aim is to educate people to reduce creating waste in the first place by making conscious choices 😀
Written By Aditi Gupta
Author’s bio:
A vivacious and lively girl living in Delhi, on her voyage for exploration of colours in life. A glimpse of what she does: Read, write, eat, Repeat!
