India generates an alarming 9,400 tonnes of plastic waste daily, much of which ends up in landfills or waterways. Despite recycling 60 percent of its waste, unmanaged plastic waste continues to pollute terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. This plastic waste includes a wide array of items such as packaging films, wrapping materials, shopping and garbage bags, fluid containers, clothing, toys, and building materials.
Khushboo Gandhi, the founder of Pune-based startup ‘Go Do Good,’ highlights the challenge of plastic lamination in paper-based packaging. "Even paper products like coffee cups and chai mugs are laminated with plastic to make them waterproof, making them non-recyclable and non-biodegradable," she says. Additionally, she notes the environmental hazards posed by black ink used in printing, which contains heavy metals and chemicals that contaminate soil.
Khushboo's company offers durable alternatives to single-use plastic, ensuring the safety of items like powder, liquid detergent, and food. Innovatively, she has repurposed agro-waste to create sustainable packaging solutions. "We use natural pigments, seaweed, and coir to produce eco-friendly inks, bubble wraps, and insulation alternatives from coconut and wool waste. We've also developed an eco-friendly coating to replace laminated paper," she explains.
‘Go Do Good’ has made significant strides, replacing up to 10 tonnes of single-use plastic, printing 150,000 products with eco-friendly inks, replacing 7 tonnes of bubble wrap with biodegradable coir, and repurposing 5 tonnes of agro-waste.
Khushboo’s journey towards sustainability began in her childhood in Mumbai, where she developed an interest in packaging design and sustainable practices. A trek in Ladakh in 2015, where she witnessed plastic waste even in remote areas, motivated her to address the problem. After pursuing a master's in material development in Barcelona, Spain, Khushboo formally launched her company in 2021 with her brother Ronak Gandhi and her husband, Chanakya Medh.
The startup has innovated in various areas, using natural materials that can be composted at home. They’ve developed a coating that makes paper water-resistant and heat-fillable, using natural pigments and seaweed for eco-friendly inks, and coconut coir for bubble wrap alternatives. Seaweed, noted for its plastic-like properties, is a key material in their products, allowing for full biodegradability and home compostability.
Khushboo emphasizes affordability, with a price difference of only 10 percent compared to traditional plastic-laminated packaging. "A 250g paper pillow pouch with plastic lamination costs Rs 7, while our natural pouch costs between Rs 7.5 to 8," she says, making sustainable choices accessible.
Despite their progress, Khushboo acknowledges the need for further advancements in replacing multi-layer packaging. Currently, ‘Go Do Good’ supplies its sustainable solutions to 50 B2B clients, including restaurants and cafeterias, demonstrating the potential for widespread adoption and significant environmental impact.
