NGO

Home-grown Sustainable Brands to look out for in 2025

With enterprises taking sustainability seriously, green business is no longer just a keyword. Whether sourcing fair-trade raw materials, creating a circular value chain, giving employment opportunities to locals, or reducing net zero emissions, these enterprises are going full throttle to ensure we do not need another planet, reviews Ketki Gadre.

Sustainable Brands

No Nasties

No Nasties represents the perfect blend of style and sustainability, offering expressive and ethically responsible fashion. The brand is dedicated to making climate-conscious choices fashionable, ensuring its products are committed to trendsetting design and environmental stewardship. True to its name, No Nasties promises that its items are free from harmful components—no genetically modified seeds, carcinogenic pesticides, toxic dyes, or unethical business practices are involved in their production.

The brand is one of the pioneering Indian enterprises that prioritizes transparency and offers detailed information about its supply chain. It uses soft and sustainable materials, such as 100% organic cotton terry fabric. Moreover, every product includes detailed information on its environmental impact—highlighting its carbon footprint, carbon offset, and water savings—all easily accessible on the website alongside each product description.

The brand aims to create a consumer movement encouraging conscious choices for a better future. No Nasties has been certified by PETA, Good on You, and Green Story, and their factories are Fairtrade-certified.

About the Founder:

Apurva Kothari founded No Nasties in 2011. With a background in software engineering, Apurva transitioned into the ethical fashion space after recognizing the devastating environmental and social impacts of conventional fashion. Under his guidance, the company has championed using sustainable materials, ethical labour practices, and environmental impact awareness. Apurva’s vision extends beyond fashion, as he is a strong advocate for fair-trade principles and a circular economy, aiming to positively impact both people and the planet.

Website: https://www.nonasties.in/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nonasties/

Coco Leni

Coco Leni is a luxury eyewear brand celebrating craftsmanship, sustainability, and timeless design. Their mission is to revive the art of handcrafted eyewear, offering custom and ready-to-wear designs that seamlessly blend traditional artistry with modern aesthetics.

From sourcing materials to packaging, there is attention to sustainability in the entire value chain. Coco Leni uses sustainable materials like eco-friendly wood, bamboo, ethically sourced buffalo horn, and renewable acetate. Their frames are made from plant-based bio-acetate, which is biodegradable and has a lighter environmental impact than petroleum-based plastics. Each eyewear is handcrafted by local women artisans, empowered with financial independence and mobility. The final product is then carefully packaged in a vegan leather case with a cleaning cloth.

The brand stands for authenticity, ethical production, and superior quality, all while contributing to the global recognition of Indian luxury eyewear.

About the Founder:

Arjun Sagar, the visionary behind Coco Leni Design House, brings over 15 years of experience in the optical industry, combined with a lifelong passion for design and Craftsmanship. Along with Matthias Haase, a German eyewear craftsman and optometrist who has worked in the same workshop since 1981, Arjun sought to merge the robust work ethics of German craftsmanship with Indian artistry.

Website: https://cocoleni.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cocoleni/

Mission Penpals

Mission Penpals is the world’s first and most efficient waste plastic pen management company. The traditional plastic pen, a seemingly innocuous office essential, harbours a dark secret—contributing significantly to the global plastic pollution crisis. Over the world, over 60 billion plastic pens are used and thrown in a year. These waste plastic pens are not collected at the source, hence are not recycled, and they are irresponsibly disposed of, causing air, water & soil pollution. Mission PenPals aims to create a “Litter–Free, Literate World,” one waste pen at a time.

Mission Penpals engages corporates, schools, and universities, encouraging participants to collect and responsibly recycle their used pens, markers, and other writing materials. The collected items are repurposed or sent to specialized recycling facilities to reduce plastic waste.

With education, awareness, collection, and recycling, Mission Penpals offers green alternatives such as biodegradable paper pens and encourages everyone to use refillable pens.

About the Founders:

Mission PenPals is an initiative under WAY- Everything Connects Foundation. It was founded by Wricha Johari and Prakshal Mehta in 2009 when they turned their crazy late-night ideas into initiatives to become a successful social enterprise. Both of them are Global Shapers, a global young leaders’ community at the World Economic Forum, Geneva, and they have been awarded the Gandhi Change Award in 2014 at Shape South Asia by the Global Shapers Community, Asia-Pacific Region.

Website: https://missionpenpals.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/missionpenpals/

Supernova by One Athletics

Supernova by One Athletics is a high-performance body spray deodorant for men and women formulated with probiotic extracts. It offers a refreshing blend of bergamot and patchouli, tailored for those with an active lifestyle. This modern deodorant promotes a healthier microbiome, naturally helping to eliminate odour-causing bacteria. Free from harmful ingredients like aluminium, parabens, and sulphates, Supernova allows the body to sweat naturally without blocking pores or triggering unpleasant smells. It’s ideal for staying fresh and odour-free, even during intense workouts or heavy sweating.

About the Founders

Founded by Advaite & Martin in 2024, they are the best combination of enhancing well-being through innovative products. Advaite, with his fascination with probiotics – understanding their role in gut health and applying that science to neutralize odour—led to Supernova, a breakthrough in deodorant technology for athletes. As an athlete and fitness enthusiast, Martin brings invaluable insights into developing products that meet the unique needs of an active lifestyle. Frustrated by the lack of personal care products designed for athletes – and the poor-quality ingredients in most options – he realized that traditional deodorants and antiperspirants hinder natural sweating, which is crucial for active individuals.

Website: https://www.oneathletics.in/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oneathletics_official/

EcoKaari

EcoKaari is a social enterprise founded to foster community-driven, sustainable development that benefits both people and the environment. “EcoKaari” symbolises the close connection between artisans and the natural world. This reflects the brand’s belief in the interdependence of craftsmanship and environmental sustainability, which has long been the foundation of India’s rich handicraft heritage.

EcoKaari upcycles waste plastic into unique, handcrafted fabrics using traditional tools like the Charkha (spindle) and Handloom. These fabrics are handwoven by women and young artisans from humble backgrounds, providing them with meaningful employment and skill development opportunities. By blending traditional Indian craftsmanship with modern, upcycled materials, EcoKaari offers sustainable alternatives in the form of contemporary designs while adhering to principles of upcycling, material optimization, and waste reduction that have been part of India’s artisanal practices for millennia.

About the Founder:

Nandan Bhat founded EcoKaari, a social enterprise he established in 2020. With over a decade of experience in business development, procurement, and project management, Nandan became acutely aware of the environmental harm caused by waste plastic, particularly from items like carry bags and food wrappers. After witnessing the rising plastic pollution problem, especially during the COVID-19 lockdown, he was inspired to create EcoKaari as a solution. His goal was to address the plastic waste crisis and provide meaningful employment opportunities to women with skills but limited formal education, empowering them through sustainable craftsmanship.

October 29, 2024

Rural Healthcare Solutions

Medyseva, a healthcare start-up dedicated to serving rural India, is led by Rachita Kasliwal, an alumna of Mayo College Girls School, Ajmer. Following her academic journey with a B.Com (Hons.) from Shri Ram College of Commerce and a PGDM from the Loyola Institute of Business Administration, Chennai, Rachita immersed herself in her family’s healthcare business. As the driving force behind Medyseva’s Marketing and Operations, Rachita champions the mission to provide accessible medical services to rural communities. Since July 2021, Medyseva has conducted over 3000 consultations, emphasizing preventive healthcare and hygiene practices for societal well-being. In conversation with Surabhi Goel, Rachita Kasliwal of Medyseva discusses bridging healthcare gaps in rural India through telemedicine. What motivated Medyseva’s creation, and how does it tackle rural healthcare challenges? When COVID-19 hit, people struggled to see doctors in person. As friends and relatives reached out for help consulting doctors remotely, initially to my husband, the scale of the issue dawned on us. Rural areas faced a severe shortage of healthcare resources, leaving residents with no viable options for medical consultations. Witnessing this, we recognized the potential to address this challenge through telemedicine solutions. In rural regions, limited access to qualified medical professionals often leads to residents seeking assistance from unqualified practitioners or enduring lengthy and costly journeys to nearby cities for treatment. Seeing how technology helped with online classes, we also decided to use it for healthcare. That’s how Medyseva was born, aiming to bring medical help to rural areas through telemedicine. As a female entrepreneur in health tech, what hurdles did you face founding Medyseva? The main challenge I faced was changing people’s mind set about telemedicine. Many still believe a doctor must see or touch them for a diagnosis. Consulting a doctor remotely seemed foreign in rural areas, where generations have relied on

Driving Change: The Impactful Tale of LooCafe in India

In the heart of India, LooCafe stands as a symbol of transformative innovation, rewriting the narrative of public hygiene. Founded by visionary Abhishek Nath in 2019, LooCafe is a testament to the power of a simple idea to revolutionize an entire industry. In a recent interview, Vedant Nath, leading Innovation, Technology, and Marketing at LooCafe, and Shambavi Mishra discussed the initiative’s evolution and its significant impact on changing the landscape of public toilets in India. Driven by Abhishek’s expertise in facility management, LooCafe was born out of the critical gap in public sanitation despite the Swachh Bharat Mission’s push for cleanliness. The first LooCafe in Telangana, Hyderabad, began a journey toward improved sanitation and hygiene in public spaces. LooCafe operates on a unique public-private partnership model, collaborating with the government to provide clean and well-maintained facilities. This patented and trademarked product of Ixora Group, a pioneer in healthcare and waste management, has been well-received, transforming the public restroom experience and contributing to a cleaner, more hygienic India. Can you shed some light on how LooCafe came into existence? LooCafe, conceptualized in 2018 by our founder Abhishek Ravinder Nath, emerged as a response to the critical issue of open defecation and public urination in India. The Swachh Bharat Mission highlighted the urgent need for accessible public toilets in a country with a population of 1.4 billion. What sets LooCafe apart from traditional public toilets? LooCafe is not just about toilets; it’s a luxury public washroom concept designed to transform public sanitation. It operates on a patented innovation by Ixora Group, introducing free-to-use ‘IoT ’-based luxury smart washrooms with a café. This unique approach helps combat open defecation while providing additional facilities and a sustainable model. Can you elaborate on LooCafe’s patented innovations and innovative features? LooCafe’s patented innovation includes the introduction

Aahwahan Foundation: Empowering and Transforming India with One Trailblazing Initiative at a Time

Mehak Walia in conversation with Aahwahan Foundation, an NGO that is involved in promoting the welfare of people and driving the beauty of change with the power of their work. In the vast tapestry of India, where myriad challenges intertwine with the hopes and dreams of millions, the Aahwahan Foundation stands as a beacon of transformative change. This Pan-India organization has orchestrated a symphony of initiatives that address critical issues in education, healthcare, women empowerment, community development, and environmental sustainability. Braja Kishore Pradhan, the founder of this incredibly generous organization, exclaimed, “Aahwahan started as a mission to make the world a better place for us all. We work on five segments: Environment & sustainability, community living, women empowerment, education and health. In farming, which is the backbone of our country, Aahwahan has empowered more than 2 lakh farmers with its initiatives and helped them receive good returns. Our ideology is guided by ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam,’ which means the whole world is a family, and we need to work towards each other’s upliftment to bring about change. Only collective effort can bring about change, which we are committed to.” Their Education Initiatives: At the heart of Aahwahan Foundation’s mission is the commitment to reshaping the educational landscape, ensuring no child is left behind. The ‘Education on Wheels’ program exemplifies this dedication. In Karnataka, the foundation’s mobile academic unit traverses diverse locations, bringing quality education to the doorsteps of underprivileged students. This innovative initiative is not merely a van; it’s a moving classroom with a biology, chemistry, physics, maths, computer, robotics, and digital library. Students not only gain theoretical knowledge but also experience practical hands-on learning. The van provides access to expert teachers through an interactive panel, facilitating personalized guidance. This initiative extends beyond conventional classroom learning, encompassing vocational training, guidance, and personality