Fashionably Sustainable: Startup Introduces Stylish Sunglasses Crafted From Recycled Potato Chip Packets.

In a groundbreaking endeavor, a Pune-based startup has achieved a remarkable feat by creating the world’s first sunglasses made entirely from recycled potato chip packets. This innovative approach not only addresses the global plastic waste crisis but also showcases the potential for transforming discarded materials into fashionable and eco-friendly products.

In India it claims to have created the world’s first recycled sunglasses made from empty packets (bags) of chips. Founder Anish Malpani says on his Twitter channel: “We just made the world’s first recycled sunglasses from ‘impossible-to-recycle’ plastic waste – metalized packets of chips. And this is just the start.”

When announcing the launch of the recycled sunglasses on Twitter, Anish Malpani calls it the “most difficult thing” he has ever worked on. In a Pune laboratory, the former finance professional spent two years researching and developing recycled sunglasses made of multi-layered plastics (MLP). The sunglasses were released under the brand name “Without”.

Malpani founded his company Ashaya in February 2021, wanting to work on solving the problem of multi-layered plastics.

According to information published on Ashaya’s website, the company does not only work with packets of chips, “but we recycle all kinds of “impossible-to-recycle” multi-layered plastic packaging (MLP) – think chocolate wrappers, milk packets, essentially any flexible packaging”.

This multi-layered plastic waste is considered impossible to recycle with close to 0% being recycled globally. 80% of all ocean leakage is flexible plastic packaging. It’s honestly the worst.

There’s actually a QR code on the side of the frames that tells you where the waste came from, which wastepickers worked on it and the entire impact that you’re having.

Have spent two years working hard in a lab here in Pune and found a way to not merely recycle it, but to reinvigorate it. We chemo-mechanically extract materials from this crappy waste using our patent-pending technology and convert them into sunglasses (and coasters),” according to the Ashaya website.

“And this is just the beginning,” the company claims. “The material properties we are close to virgin-like and its applications are boundless.”

 Through ingenious thinking and a commitment to sustainability, the Pune-based startup has harnessed the potential of discarded potato chip packets to produce stylish and eco-conscious sunglasses. By employing advanced recycling techniques, the company processes the used packets and transforms them into durable, lightweight frames with a sleek design.

Malpani and his team collect discarded packets of chips by working directly with waste pickers, saying that the money earned from these sunglasses will be used to pay waste pickers better and fund their children’s education.

By embracing this innovative eyewear, individuals not only contribute to the reduction of plastic waste but also make a fashion statement that aligns with their commitment to the environment.

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The sunglasses crafted from recycled potato chip packets not only make a positive environmental statement but also offer a fashionable accessory option. The startup has successfully combined sustainability and style, ensuring that eco-conscious individuals can express their values without compromising on aesthetics. With a variety of designs, colors, and frame shapes, these recycled sunglasses cater to diverse fashion preferences. By embracing this innovative eyewear, individuals not only contribute to the reduction of plastic waste but also make a fashion statement that aligns with their commitment to the environment.

By employing advanced recycling techniques, the company processes the used packets and transforms them into durable, lightweight frames with a sleek design. This revolutionary approach not only reduces plastic waste but also highlights the possibilities of creating fashionable accessories from unconventional sources.

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