Wooing India with bamboo

It's an ideal way to start your day - your very first step towards a pollution free world - a bamboo toothbrush," smiles Sachin. "One has to switch to good habits," admits Aabid. "Bio-degradable products are must for a green planet," quips Rajashree. These are but a few of the 6522 happy customers of Bamboo India. What's so special about a bamboo toothbrush? "It replaces our plastic one," pat comes the reply from these happy users, one of whom is actress Juhi Chawla herself. Impressed by Bamboo India initiative, Juhi has even made a video admiring their social cause.
True, one never thinks twice before picking up a toothbrush. However, it's a fact that every part of our toothbrush - handle, bristles and packaging - is made of petroleum based plastic which is the source of the second largest plastic waste generation after plastic bags. In India, more than 150 million plastic toothbrushes go into the garbage every month. The first toothbrush was made in 1938 and as it takes 1000 years for the plastic to biodegrade, every toothbrush made, used and thrown out since then, still exists somewhere on our planet in some or the other form polluting nature.
"Isn't it time to switch to more sustainable materials," asks social entrepreneur Yogesh Shinde, founder, Bamboo India. An IT professional and TEDx speaker, Yogesh manufactures toothbrushes as well as a whole lot of products out of bamboo - just to make sure that no more plastic waste is added to the already existing heaps of garbage.
"Let's make Mother Earth breathe, she's suffocating," he states, "What we make is earth friendly, natural, bio-degradable - be it acoustic bamboo speaker, a desk organiser, a mobile docking station or a simple, everyday toothbrush. While the handle is of bamboo, the bristles are made from 100 % biodegradable soft and medium bristle, nylon, bamboo and corn fibre, all of which is biodegradable and doesn't cause pollution."
He points out that even our Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, is promoting bamboo and how research will help Indian farmers and entrepreneurs to make globally competitive bamboo products. "But sadly, the idea has not yet circulated in the minds of bureaucrats as yet," sighs Yogesh who recalls that when he approached the banks for a loan he was not only denied it but mocked for his idea of manufacturing bamboo products. Not deterred, this social entrepreneur mortgaged his home to raise the seed capital for his venture and kick started Bamboo India . Today, Yogesh proudly shares that his venture, Bamboo India, has crossed a turnover of Rs one crore in just one year.
An agile consultant and coach with 14 years in IT consultancy Yogesh is an enthusiast and innovator whose association with companies like T-Mobile, Vodafone and Q2 exposed him to working atmosphere in Germany, UK and Europe apart from India. He observed that unlike India, farmers in Germany seemed happy and began wondering what could be done to make Indian farmers happy too. Back in India, at his farmhouse near Pune, he spent time with farmers and tried to understand their problems. He made up his mind to do something and dared to say goodbye to his flourishing career abroad to kick start his own eco-friendly venture in India on August 15, 2016.
"I chose this auspicious day particularly because, I am sure, the way it led India towards freedom 70 years ago, born on this day Bamboo India will lead Indian farmers towards economic independence," states Yogesh."I chose eco-friendly bamboo for its strength, renewability, sustainability and longevity. This largest grass on this planet that has three-year growth cycle and is uniquely efficient and responsible resource, easily found everywhere.
Yogesh has chalked out ambitious plans of expansion and drawn deadlines before him to achieve them. "I plan to reduce 1,00,000 kilos of plastic in India by December 31, 2017. Already, I have been able to reduce 62,000 kilos by September 30, 2017. The target of more 38,000 remains, which I am confident we will reach," he declares. Also he has promised himself to re-establish 100 families, 12 of whom have already begun earning.
Beginning from World Bamboo Day, September 18, Yogesh has started another mission - that of educating the young minds regarding the usefulness of bamboo. His awareness campaign ‘Brush Pollution Away' began from schools in Mumbai. He wants to nurture young minds and make them aware that Mother Earth needs to be saved and protected from plastic menace.
There is no dearth of bamboo in India which is the second largest producers of bamboo in the world. But only four per cent of our production goes into the manufacturing of products for the global market. There is huge potential into converting bamboo into wise man's timber. This is a golden opportunity to make our farmers live with dignity while they grow their own natural timber and earn money out of it. Bamboo typically reaches full height and width within the first 12 months of its life. During the next few years its cell walls will continue to thicken and grow stronger until it reaches peak maturity, usually between 5-7 years," informs Yogesh.
Considering the hazards of overusing plastic in day-to-day applications, Bamboo India has taken up an ambitious goal of reducing one million kilograms of plastic from the world by end of year 2017. To achieve this aim, the team has developed a social entrepreneurship model that utilises latest technology to bring traditional yet innovative eco-friendly products in the market.