Nestled in the lush but fire-prone hills of Uttarakhand, sisters Nupur and Sharvari Poharkar are leading an eco-innovation that merges environmental sustainability with women empowerment. In 2021, they launched PIRUL Handicrafts, a unique social enterprise that transforms fallen pine needles into beautiful, functional handicrafts—and in doing so, they’re also helping prevent devastating forest fires.

Pine needles, or "pirul" as they’re locally known, are notorious for accelerating wildfires in the Himalayan region. Every year, tonnes of these highly flammable needles blanket the forest floor, making fire containment incredibly difficult. The Poharkar sisters saw this not as a problem—but as an opportunity.

With backgrounds in design and sustainability, they started PIRUL Handicrafts with the goal of turning waste into wonder. Their team collects pine needles from forests surrounding villages like KhetiKhan, Tyarsun, and Patan, converting over 20,000 kg so far into eco-friendly artefacts such as baskets, trays, lampshades, coasters, and wall art.

What sets their venture apart is its deep rural involvement. They’ve built a network of over 100 women artisans, many of whom had never earned an income before. These women are trained to sort, clean, weave, and mold the pine needles into contemporary designs, mixing them with natural materials like bamboo and cotton thread.

The impact is multi-layered. First, they’re reducing the fire load in forests, which helps mitigate the risk of wildfires. Second, they’re reviving and modernizing local craft traditions, adding a sustainable twist. And third, they’re providing financial independence to women in remote hill communities.

PIRUL Handicrafts has also attracted attention at sustainability expos and green lifestyle markets, both in India and abroad. Their products not only carry the earthy aroma of pine but also a story of regeneration, resilience, and eco-awareness.

The sisters envision expanding the initiative across more hill states in India, partnering with local governments and eco-activists to spread awareness about the dual crisis of forest degradation and rural unemployment.

Their story is not just about handicrafts—it’s a powerful narrative of two sisters using design and compassion to rewrite the future of a region. Through PIRUL, Nupur and Sharvari Poharkar have shown that even the most dangerous elements of nature can be turned into a force for good—with creativity, courage, and community.