India's Young Sustainable Changemakers and Entrepreneurs

Young Minds, Big Impact: The Future of Sustainability in India  

Young minds, young talents, the future of India, are stepping up as sustainable entrepreneurs and changemakers. With a vision to reduce waste and transform it into creative, impactful brands, these young Indian voices are inspiring the world. We feature some of the talented entrepreneurs who started very young with their sustainable projects and brands—talents that are here to create a larger-than-life impact. Encouraging young people is the key to growth because they have the power to change both today and tomorrow for a better future. Their incredible stories are shaping these changes.

Ashay Bhave - Thaely: Turning Plastic Waste into Vegan Sneakers  

Ashay Bhave, an Indian entrepreneur from Dubai, UAE, was only 19 when he initially worked on a project that later evolved into Thaely, a sustainable brand officially launched in 2021. Now 26 years old, this young entrepreneur started Thaely to be part of the solution to reduce plastic waste.

Thaely fights against plastic waste by creating vegan and recycled footwear. At a glance, you would never guess what material it is made from. What began as a recycled plastic fabric prototype has now turned into a full-fledged sneaker brand. They use discarded plastic bags upcycled into recycled plastic bottle canvas and pack the shoes in a box made from recycled paper infused with plantable basil seeds, with box colours derived from coffee waste grounds. Could it get any more sustainable?

Beyond sustainability, the brand gives a voice to waste pickers, shedding light on their largely unregulated working conditions and unfair wages paid by waste buyers for long hours of labour. Now available in Europe, Thaely is making waves beyond borders. Their mission to tackle plastic waste stands by their powerful motto, "Don't just do it. Do it right!" Ashay Bhave has also been recognized in Forbes 30 Under 30, this young changemaker is on route to reducing waste with an innovative solution.

Garvita Gulhati - Why Waste? Tackling the Water Crisis  

Garvita Gulhati, from Bangalore, is a sustainable visionary who started as young as 15 years old with incredible forward-thinking for a responsible planet. Known as the Water Girl of India, she is proof that a child can change the world. Now 26 years old, she is the young founder of Why Waste?, a nonprofit addressing the global water crisis and raising awareness about water conservation. Her mission began after a life-changing moment in Gujarat when a young child approached her, not for food or money, but for water that Garvita had in her hands.

Shocked by the waste of water in India, she began researching the issue and discovered that 14 million liters of water are wasted annually simply from the water left behind in glasses at restaurants. To tackle this, she started speaking with restaurant owners and came up with a simple and powerful solution, the #GlassHalfFull movement that encourages serving only half-filled glasses of water, just as much as customers need. If they leave any behind, the restaurants can use the remaining water to water plants.

Initially, she said it was hard for her to be taken seriously due to her young age, but once restaurants saw the impact of her initiative, they embraced the change. She has since been featured in Forbes 30 Under 30 - Asia - Social Impact (2021) and National Geographic's "Wavemaker of Change." Her Why Waste? app helps individuals calculate their water footprint, and she strongly believes that sustainability is like building a habit and our conscious choices have a greater impact.

Haaziq Kazi - Ervis: A Ship to Tackle Ocean Waste  

At just 18 years old, Haaziq Kazi from Pune is already making waves, literally. A child prodigy and environmentalist, Haaziq is the founder of Ervis, a futuristic ocean-cleaning ship powered by solar energy, designed to remove plastic waste from the sea.

His journey began at age 12 with a classroom project, leading him to give a TEDx Talk on ocean pollution. Inspired by a simple observation from water swirling down a sinkhole he conceptualized a system that could "suck out" ocean waste while protecting marine life.

Haaziq warns about the devastating effects of plastic pollution, from killing marine animals to disrupting ecosystems. His quote sums up the problem powerfully, "When we die, our bodies go back to Mother Earth, but the plastic debt we leave behind stays for generations."

Through Ervis Foundation, he spreads awareness on plastic consumption, responsible disposal, and the long-term impact of waste. His mission is to reduce, rethink, and clean up our planet.

Nirvaan Somany - Project Jeans: From Discarded Denim to Sleeping Bags  

17-year-old Nirvaan Somany from Delhi has a heartwarming project, his nonprofit Project Jeans - Blue to Green repurposes discarded denim into sleeping bags for the underprivileged.

Shocked by the environmental cost of jeans (it takes 3,781 liters of water to make just one pair!), Nirvaan decided to tackle denim waste while helping the homeless. Project Jeans employs 15 local women tailors to upcycle donated jeans, having already transformed 12,000 pairs into 2,000 plus sleeping bags for those in need. Nirvaan is a true changemaker preventing jeans from ending up in landfills by reducing textile waste while bringing warmth and comfort to the homeless.

Aditi Chandel - Akhirah Eco: Upcycling Plastic into Bags  

From Thane, India, Aditi Chandel is the founder of Akhirah Eco, a sustainable brand that upcycles plastic waste by weaving them into handmade bags and accessories, crafted by local artisans. The brand name, "Akhirah", means "afterlife" in Arabic, symbolizing a second life for discarded plastic.

Aditi was deeply affected by the massive plastic waste she saw on Mumbai’s beaches. Instead of letting it pile up, she chose to create something meaningful, turning waste into fashion with purpose.

Through Akhirah Eco, she repurposes plastic waste and raises awareness about about the never-ending plastic crisis and advocates for responsible consumption. Her mission is a call to action, to reduce waste through innovative, upcycled fashion.

Young Minds, Big Dreams

Different projects, different ideas, but one powerful goal - to make the world a better place. These young changemakers are proving that age is just a number when it comes to creating real impact.

Their journeys remind us that small actions add up to big change. Every one of us can take small steps, contribute in our own way, and be part of the sustainability movement. 

What steps are you taking for a sustainable tomorrow? Drop your thoughts in the comments and join the community of changemakers!