Vikash Kumar and Rahul Kumar, two brothers from Narhat village in Bihar’s Nawada district, left well-paying careers to collect plastic waste door-to-door and convert it into durable furniture and infrastructure through their startup Minus Degre.
Founded during the COVID-19 lockdown, the venture now recycles around 120 tonnes of plastic every year, transforming discarded packaging and household waste into benches, tiles, trophies, and souvenirs. Their eco-friendly products are used by government institutions and major companies and have even reached the gift shop at Rashtrapati Bhavan, while exports now extend to countries including the United States, Germany, Taiwan, Canada, and Singapore.
By building a circular economy around waste and working closely with scrap dealers and waste workers, the brothers have demonstrated how grassroots innovation can address plastic pollution while generating livelihoods and global demand for sustainable materials.
From Waste Collection To Global Markets
The idea behind Minus Degre emerged when the brothers began reflecting on the scale of plastic pollution in India and the invisible labour of waste workers who handle discarded material every day. Vikash, an IIT Delhi postgraduate in mechanical engineering, and Rahul, a graduate of the National Institute of Fashion Technology, decided to apply their technical and design expertise to a problem affecting millions.
Instead of pursuing conventional corporate careers, they spent time in scrap yards and recycling hubs to understand the challenges faced by ragpickers and kabadiwalas. Their early experiments began during the pandemic with a small oven worth about ₹6,000 in which they melted discarded plastic lids and moulded them into simple items such as earrings, badges and keychains.
These products were initially sold for ₹300 to ₹800, helping the brothers test market demand and refine their recycling process. Over time, they developed a method to transform plastic waste into strong sheets and panels that resemble marble, which can then be crafted into furniture, trophies, benches and architectural panels.
Today, the startup processes around 10 tonnes of plastic waste each month, converting material that would otherwise end up in landfills into long-lasting products. Their recycled tiles and panels are waterproof, termite-proof and scratch-resistant, making them suitable for public infrastructure and furniture.
The durability and design quality of these products have attracted clients ranging from private companies to government institutions, proving that recycled materials can compete with conventional alternatives.
Recycling Waste, Creating Livelihoods
What began as a small experiment has evolved into a growing sustainability venture with an annual turnover estimated at around ₹1.25 crore. The startup sources plastic waste from more than 30 scrap dealers and employs over a dozen workers who earn regular monthly wages through the recycling unit.
By integrating informal waste collectors into their supply chain, the founders aim to bring dignity and financial stability to workers who are often overlooked in the recycling economy. The impact of the venture extends beyond business. Since its inception, Minus Degre has recycled hundreds of tonnes of plastic waste, preventing it from entering landfills or polluting rivers and oceans.
The brothers emphasise that plastic itself is not the core problem rather, it is society’s tendency to treat it as disposable and undervalue both the material and the people handling it. Their mission therefore focuses on restoring value to waste and encouraging responsible consumption. Demand for their products now stretches far beyond Bihar.
Companies such as Tata Motors, Adidas, BMW and IDFC Bank have partnered with the startup for sustainable products and corporate initiatives. Through the brand Rare Planet, their recycled souvenirs and artefacts have reached the gift shop at Rashtrapati Bhavan, while exports to markets like the United States, Germany, Taiwan, Canada and Singapore highlight the growing global interest in circular design and eco-friendly materials.
Looking ahead, the founders plan to expand their recycling capacity and explore new areas such as textile waste recycling. Their long-term goal is to scale the circular economy model by proving that recycled plastic can replace virgin materials in construction, design and everyday infrastructure while reducing environmental damage.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The journey of Vikash and Rahul illustrates how powerful solutions to environmental crises can emerge from local communities when innovation meets empathy. By treating plastic waste as a valuable resource rather than disposable trash, the brothers have not only created a sustainable business but also highlighted the dignity of waste workers who sustain India’s recycling ecosystem.
In a world struggling with mounting plastic pollution, initiatives like Minus Degre remind us that meaningful change often begins with small, courageous decisions such as leaving comfort behind to tackle a difficult problem.
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