Gujarat’s sugar mills pave the way to plastic-free South India; Kerala’s ‘Bakwa’ tells the story

Synopsis: Aswin J Tom, a young entrepreneur from Kerala, has launched Bakwa, a start-up making fully biodegradable water bottles from sugarcane and corn starch sourced from Gujarat’s mills. His venture combines public awareness campaigns, partnerships with delivery platforms, and local production in Kerala to promote sustainable alternatives to plastic. The initiative aligns with Kerala’s efforts to curb the use of single use plastic.

Plastic is everywhere in modern life. Despite its harmful impact on ecosystems, human health and livelihoods, efforts to replace it with sustainable alternatives have often fallen short. It is not for a lack of trying.

Aswin J Tom, a young entrepreneur from Kerala’s Idukki, is the latest in a series of pioneers aiming to remove plastic from everyday use.