Kerala’s Green Bio Bottles: India’s Answer to Plastic Waste Crisis

One of the biggest environmental issues in India is plastic pollution because, as per stats, the country produces approximately 9.3 million tonnes of plastic waste annually. Although PET plastics are recycled more than other kinds (up to 90%), the remaining 40% often ends up in landfills or contaminates nature and threatens the lives of both humans and animals in the water. However, a recent group of Indian startups is changing this story by offering practical and scalable solutions, and Kerala’s Green Bio is the most ambitious of them.

What is the Plastic Waste Crisis?

The environmental pollution caused by the  use of plastic is called the plastic waste crisis. It is a serious problem that’s reshaping Indian society. Not only does plastic waste harm the environment; it is also a significant risk to our health, financial well-being and the future of our society.

India is facing a serious crisis related to plastic waste. Since the population and cities in the country are growing quickly, a lot of plastic waste is created each year. The vast majority of this waste is dumped in our rivers, oceans and landfills, which greatly damages the environment. The Ganga, Yamuna, and Narmada rivers are examples of rivers polluted by plastics and waste. The plastic waste causes damage to sea animals as well as to the quality of our food, so everyone is affected by plastic waste. 

Turning Corn and Sugarcane Into Water Bottles

Green Bio, a startup in Kerala founded by Pradeep Kokkat and Ali Asgar, manufactures water bottles that disintegrate naturally and are made from polylactic acid (PLA), which is produced from crops such as corn and sugarcane. Although they have the feel and look of plastic, they break down into water, carbon dioxide and biomass in only 180 days. The company has gone above and beyond by making the caps and labels biodegradable as well.

How Is Green Bio Different From Others?

Faster Decomposition: The degradation of the bottles reaches completion in roughly three to six months, which is much faster than standard plastics that can take decades to break down.

No harmful residue: The broken-down items leave only water, CO₂ and biomass without any microplastics or other harmful chemicals.

Comprehensive Sustainability: Unlike most bottles, Green Bio makes sure even the caps and labels are biodegradable.

Manufacturing Flexibility: The PLA material is changed into plastic bottles, and sellers can manufacture them between 100 ml and 1 litre, making them handy for many users.

Being at the manufacturing phase and registered with Kerala’s Startup Mission, Green Bio wishes to link with manufacturers across the country to enhance its production and make a bigger impact.

Kerala Irrigation Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (KIIDC) is also taking part, collaborating with 8 Specialists from Kochi to manufacture bioplastic bottles made from PLA. Made at KIIDC’s facilities in Thodupuzha and Aruvikkara, the bottles are as strong as common plastic and will disappear in soil within six months.

Effect on the Economy and the Environment

Cost Factor: Now, bio-bottles cost more than five times the price of regular plastic bottles (while regular plastic bottles are marked at ₹2.50, biobottles are about ₹12.50 each), but there is hope that production will help bring costs down.

Market Readiness: Although the price of KIIDC’s water may become higher, the environmental impact is much more favorable than the increase in price.

Why is PLA bioplastic important for India?

PLA is being adopted more and more because it serves as a better, eco-friendly alternative to plastics from petroleum. The energy needed for PLA is only 65% of what is needed for other plastics, and it emits 63% fewer greenhouse gases. PLA is made with crops that take CO₂ from the atmosphere, which makes its carbon footprint quite small.

India’s sales of bioplastics were $447 million in 2023 and are estimated to expand to $1.8 billion by 2030, owing to people caring more about the environment and various government incentives. The packaging industry is driving this trend, and companies, both old and new, are putting more effort into new research and producing at a higher rate.

Challenges and opportunities

Although the benefits are huge, many challenges still face the industry:

• Cost Parity: Although bioplastics are more costly than usual plastics, improvements in technology and increased production are lowering the gap.
• Composting Infrastructure: PLA breaks down best where it is industrially composted, and not all places in India have those facilities.
• Consumer Awareness: It is important to inform people about why bioplastics are good and how they should be discarded.

The efforts in Kerala’s Green Bio and similar projects have become the way forward for sustainable packaging in India. Thanks to the use of agricultural resources and recent bioplastic developments, these startups demonstrate that it is possible to have eco-friendly options that work and can be expanded.

People and companies in the packaging, manufacturing and sustainability fields should understand: the future is for those who innovate sustainably. As the country tries to maintain growth and protect the environment, biodegradable bottles are an important step in making India cleaner and greener.