What if your daily cup of coffee could help reduce plastic pollution? That’s the question Rhea Kothari and Rishika Reddy asked—and answered—with their groundbreaking innovation: packaging made from coffee waste, banana peels, and other natural materials. In a world drowning in plastic, these two young entrepreneurs are showing how the most unlikely materials can become part of the sustainability revolution. With more than 280 brand partnerships and growing interest from industries across India, their story is a powerful example of eco-innovation led by purpose.

Over 9 million tonnes of plastic waste is produced in India every year—and a significant chunk of that comes from single-use packaging. Whether it’s food delivery, e-commerce, or everyday groceries, the environmental toll is massive. But where others saw a challenge, Rhea and Rishika saw an opportunity. They knew biodegradable alternatives existed, but most were expensive, complicated to produce, or lacked durability. What if they could change that—using natural, easily available waste?

It started as an experiment. Rhea, a product designer with a keen interest in biomaterials, began exploring how natural byproducts like used coffee grounds, banana peels, and mycelium (a type of fungus) could be combined to create tough, compostable packaging. She teamed up with Rishika, an environmental science graduate who had been working on food waste recycling. Together, they began prototyping—a journey that included late nights, failed samples, and endless trial-and-error.

Their final material was 100% compostable, water-resistant, strong enough to replace traditional plastic in many use-cases, and made from food and agricultural waste.

In 2021, the duo launched their startup, now known for creating sustainable packaging solutions for cosmetics, food, fashion, and e-commerce brands. Their eco-packaging is not just functional—it also sends a message. Brands use it to show customers they care about the planet.

Their startup offers custom-moulded containers, wrappers and trays made from bio-waste, compostable shipping boxes, and mushroom-based cushioning for fragile items. They even developed an edible cutlery line as part of a campaign against plastic spoons and straws.

Their breakthrough came when a local bakery agreed to switch to banana-peel-based dessert boxes. That one order turned into dozens, and soon, they were fielding inquiries from organic brands, ethical fashion labels, and even restaurants looking to cut plastic from their packaging.

Today, their packaging is used by artisanal food brands, sustainable skincare companies, boutique clothing stores, and subscription services. And with growing awareness around Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) in India, they’re working closely with corporates looking to meet green compliance standards.

Like any startup, they faced plenty of hurdles: educating customers about compostable materials, creating packaging that could survive India’s climate variations, sourcing waste consistently at scale, and convincing businesses to move from cheap plastic to slightly more expensive eco-options. But they’ve built a strong case—not just environmentally, but financially. Their clients report improved brand image, higher customer trust, and increasing demand from eco-conscious buyers.

The raw materials—banana peels, spent coffee grounds, and agricultural waste—are sourced from local farms, cafés, and food processors. The startup also employs women from nearby villages to help with sorting, drying, and processing the materials, turning their innovation into a rural employment model as well.

Now incubated by a sustainability accelerator, Rhea and Rishika are looking to expand to Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities, offering scalable packaging solutions to mid-size and large companies. They’re also working on new materials using sugarcane waste, pineapple fibres, and seaweed, to broaden the possibilities for biodegradable design.

Their vision is simple: "If nature made it, nature should be able to take it back."

At a time when the planet is calling out for sustainable alternatives, Rhea Kothari and Rishika Reddy are not just creating products—they’re creating impact. By transforming everyday waste into something beautiful, useful, and planet-friendly, they are proving that innovation doesn’t always need a billion-dollar lab—sometimes, it just needs a banana peel and a bold idea.