Indian company Thunk, is making fashionable products out of discarded rubbish while supporting underprivileged communities.

Thunk, a company in India, which was once a college project, is giving a new lease of life to tetra-paks, plastic bags, CDs, chip packets and other items that are usually thrown out. Suren Vikhash, a 24 year-old designer and entrepreneur,is using waste material to tailor durable and stylish lifestyle products, as well as home dÈcor and furniture.

The Thunk process begins with waste management: the collection, segregation and cleaning of discarded products. The raw material is cut and shredded, before being woven with handlooms to make durable fabric. From this, the company produces stylish, colourful laptop bags, magazine holders, wallets, handbags and mobile telephone pouches.

‘Waste material has a long life… like juice cartons which last about 60 years,’ Suren reveals. ‘The time from manufacture until we have the juice, consume it and throw it away, is around two to three months. I wanted to use this waste as raw material for new products, adopting the Cradle-to-Cradle* design approach.’

Thunk recruits people from various underprivileged communities, involving them in all the stages of production and manufacture. The company also employs local artisans, such as weavers and tailors, providing income stability and security in a time of recession.

‘All Thunk’s waste managers receive a steady income,’ says Suren. ‘Actually, our waste-management system would be impossible without them. We’ve also set up health insurance schemes and savings accounts, which can be started with one rupee,’ he adds.

The products are being sold in cities like Bangalore, Delhi, Coimbatore, Goa, Pondicherry, Mumbai and Kolkatta, via outlets like Mother Earth and Auroville Earth Institute. ‘Having studied design, I’m using my talents to benefit the local community and help reduce the amount of waste that reaches the landfills.’

This caterpillar to butterfly’ project has the potential to be rolled out across other cities in India and is gathering interest internationally. Meanwhile, Suren is exploring other innovations around waste management and alternative sources of energy for
sustainability.

Contact: Thunk India +91 96777 57517
Website: www​.thunkinindia​.com

Bags made from recycled material
Photo: © Thunk India