In Bhilwara, Rajasthan, 17-year-old Aditya Banger is redefining sustainability with his startup, Trash to Treasure. Launched in January 2021, the venture courageously tackles India’s massive plastic waste problem by converting up to 10 tonnes of plastic bottles, wrappers, and covers into fabric every day.

Aditya’s inspiration came during a visit to China, where he discovered a facility that was creating fabric from plastic waste. Motivated by the concept, he pitched the idea to his family—who run a textiles business—and received full support. Together they established a manufacturing unit in Bhilwara in collaboration with a foreign company.

The process is as simple as it is powerful: collected PET-grade plastic is cleaned, dried, shredded into fine flakes, and melted to remove harmful chemicals. Once cooled, it becomes filament that’s spun into yarn and blended with cotton to create durable fabric—often stronger than regular cotton .

Despite challenges in sourcing clean PET plastic (often at high cost), Aditya now works with local collectors and encourages residents to contribute waste directly, even unwashed, to streamline operations.

Aditya Banger’s entrepreneurial spirit not only helps reduce environmental burdens but also offers a scalable, circular solution for sustainable textiles. His journey is a testament to youth-led innovation making real-world impact.