Long before sustainability became a buzzword, reuse was simply a way of life in Bihar. Plastic containers were never “waste” they were storage boxes, household tools, or mats stitched together from torn sacks.
Nothing useful was thrown away. That quiet wisdom, passed down without lectures, stayed embedded in the founder’s worldview.
Years later, after moving to Delhi, that mindset collided with a stark reality. Plastic was everywhere, used once, discarded thoughtlessly.
The people who handled it every day, ragpickers and waste workers, were treated as invisible, despite being central to keeping cities alive. That discomfort planted the seed for something bigger.
Idea of Minus Degre
The idea of Minus Degre was shaped by two complementary journeys. One brother, Vikash, an alumnus of IIT Delhi, understood materials, systems, and scalability. The other studied at NIFT Delhi, learning how design influences value, how the same material can be dismissed or respected based on how it is presented.
On paper, both had promising careers ahead, high-paying jobs, clean offices, and stability. Yet one question kept returning, “If plastic is such a big problem, why is recycling still broken, and why are the people doing
the hardest work getting the least respect?” said Rahul, co-founder of Minus Degre, while speaking with The Logical Indian.
Into Yards
Instead of chasing comfort, the brothers chose discomfort. Right after college, they began spending time in scrap yards and waste collection centres.
“Right after college, we stepped into scrap yards and waste collection centres. We spent time with kabadiwalas and ragpickers, listening to their stories and learning the harsh realities of contamination, segregation, and survival at the bottom of the value chain,” said Rahul.
They spoke to kabadiwalas and ragpickers, listening to stories of contamination, unsafe conditions, and survival at the very bottom of the value chain.
What they discovered was clear: plastic itself was not the enemy. The real issue was how deeply undervalued it had become and when a material loses value, the people handling it lose dignity too.
Minus Degre Established
Founded in 2020, Minus Degre was built on a simple but radical idea: restore value to waste. The early days were filled with experimentation and failure. Discarded plastic was tested, reshaped, rejected, and tested again. Slowly, waste began to transform.
“We realised the problem was not plastic, it was how deeply it had been undervalued. And when a material loses its value, the people handling it lose their dignity too.”
What emerged were durable, functional products, benches, school furniture, panels, medals, and everyday infrastructure, designed not to look like recycled compromises, but like products meant to last.
Plastic waste was no longer trash. It became infrastructure. And waste work began to look like skilled work.
Measurable Impact
Since its inception, Minus Degre has recycled nearly 250 tonnes of plastic waste, diverting it from landfills and giving it a second, longer life. But the impact goes beyond numbers. By formalising processes and improving material value, the startup has helped shift how waste, and waste workers, are perceived.
Their products today are trusted by organisations such as Tata EV Store, Pantaloons, Adidas, IDFC, and Steve Madden, a strong signal that recycled materials can meet commercial and quality benchmarks.
National Scale
One of Minus Degre’s most significant milestones is its current supply of recycled benches for Jewar Airport. The project demonstrates that waste-derived materials can perform at the highest standards of durability, safety, and trust, even in critical public infrastructure.
“We are also currently supplying recycled benches for Jewar Airport, proving that waste-derived materials can meet the highest standards of durability, design, and trust.”
For the founders, this is not just validation of a product, but of a philosophy.
Grounded Vision
At its heart, Minus Degre remains rooted in where it all began. The vision is clear: a future where plastic is treated as a resource, not a nuisance; where ragpickers are recognised as essential contributors to the circular economy; and where sustainability is built honestly, from the ground up.
Minus Degre is more than a brand. It is a promise, to childhood lessons, to the people who handle society’s waste every day, and to the belief that nothing, and no one, should ever be treated as disposable.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Stories like Minus Degre remind us that meaningful sustainability is built at the intersection of lived experience, empathy, and innovation. By grounding modern design and engineering in the realities of waste workers and informal recycling systems, the founders have challenged the idea that impact must come at the cost of dignity.
Their work not only reimagines plastic as a valuable resource but also brings long-overdue respect to those who have sustained India’s recycling economy for decades. At a time when sustainability is often reduced to slogans, Minus Degre stands out for building change quietly, honestly, and from the ground up.
Also Read: From Second Life to Zero E-Waste: How MaxVolt Energy Is Building India’s Circular Battery Economy
