What if discarded tyres could become more than waste? In Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, entrepreneur Vaishali Biyani, founder of De’Dzines, has worked on turning used tyres into furniture, planters, sculptures and outdoor installations.
Through its association with IIT Kanpur, the company has also been linked to projects that explore how discarded tyres can be repurposed in public spaces. The approach reflects the principles of a circular economy, where materials are kept in use for longer instead of being discarded after their first purpose.
From Discarded Tyres to Creative Designs
Every year, billions of tyres reach the end of their useful life worldwide. Made from a combination of natural and synthetic rubber, carbon black, steel, textile fibres and chemical additives, tyres are highly durable and do not readily biodegrade.
When improperly discarded, they can occupy valuable space and create environmental and fire-safety concerns. Burning tyres can also release harmful pollutants, making responsible collection, recycling and reuse important parts of tyre-waste management.
This is the challenge that De’Dzines has sought to address through creative reuse.
Founded by Vaishali Biyani, the Kanpur-based company focuses on transforming discarded tyres into products for homes, gardens, parks and outdoor spaces. Its products have included chairs, tables, planters, baskets, mats, sculptures, swings and other functional or decorative items.
The basic idea is straightforward: when a tyre can no longer be used on a vehicle, its material can still have another purpose.
The Woman Behind De’Dzines
Vaishali Biyani is the entrepreneur associated with the founding of De’Dzines. According to an AIC T-Hub profile, she holds a B.Sc. degree from Rajasthan University and had several years of professional experience before turning her attention towards discarded tyres.
Her interest in tyre reuse reportedly developed after she observed discarded tyres being left unused and began exploring ways to convert them into products.
Rather than treating the material solely as waste, Biyani experimented with its durability, shape and flexibility to develop products for indoor and outdoor use.
De’Dzines’ approach falls within the broader concept of upcycling, in which discarded materials are converted into products with a new function and value.
The IIT Kanpur Connection
De’Dzines has also been associated with IIT Kanpur, which supported the company’s work through incubation and collaboration.
The partnership helped explore applications beyond individual consumer products, including the use of recycled tyres in larger public-space projects.
A 2022 report by EdexLive identified Vaishali Biyani as the founder of De’Dzines and reported on the company’s collaboration with IIT Kanpur and local authorities on a tyre-themed public-space initiative in Kanpur.
The project demonstrated how discarded tyres could be incorporated into creative installations rather than simply being sent for disposal.
Nana Rao Park and the Idea of a Tyre Park
Nana Rao Park in Kanpur has been associated with the city’s efforts to incorporate recycled materials into public attractions. Reports have linked recycled tyres and other discarded materials with installations at the park.
The concept is significant because it turns an environmental problem into something visible and accessible to the public.
Old tyres that might otherwise remain in waste piles can be redesigned as part of an outdoor environment. Instead of seeing a discarded tyre as something with no remaining value, visitors can see how the material can be transformed into something functional or visually engaging.
Such projects can also help introduce the principles of circular economy to a wider audience.
Why Giving Tyres a Second Life Matters
Tyres are designed to withstand significant wear and environmental stress. That durability makes them useful on roads, but it also makes them difficult to manage once they reach the end of their service life.
Responsible recycling can help divert end-of-life tyres from uncontrolled dumping and reduce the risks associated with poorly managed tyre waste. Recovered tyre materials can be used in various applications, including certain landscaping, civil-engineering and recreational products, depending on how they are processed and designed.
At the same time, reuse must be carried out responsibly. Public installations need to consider factors such as structural stability, user safety, weather exposure and long-term maintenance.
Therefore, sustainability is not simply about putting waste somewhere else. It is about processing materials appropriately and giving them a useful second life.
Rethinking What We Call Waste
The work associated with De’Dzines illustrates a larger shift in how waste can be viewed. A tyre that has reached the end of its road life does not necessarily have to reach the end of its material life. Through recycling, upcycling and thoughtful design, some of its material can potentially remain in circulation.
For cities facing increasing waste-management challenges, such approaches can offer inspiration for combining environmental responsibility with public design.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The work of Vaishali Biyani and De’Dzines highlights how discarded materials can be reimagined through design and responsible reuse.
Their association with IIT Kanpur and tyre-reuse projects in Kanpur demonstrates the potential of circular-economy thinking in public spaces.
The larger lesson is simple: sustainability is not only about producing less waste, but also about finding responsible ways to keep existing materials useful for longer.
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