No plastic, only bamboo and wood pulp: How a Bengaluru NIFT alumnus built a sustainable packaging business with Rs 2 crore monthly revenue

India is still grappling with the dangers of plastic pollution. Millions of tons of toxic single-use plastic waste choke land, clog drainage networks, and pollute oceans every year. This persistent environmental hazard leaches microplastics into food chains, triggering a severe public health emergency and demanding urgent, sustainable alternatives. In an era where people mindlessly use plastic, A NIFT alumnus from Bengaluru decided to bring change. Vaibhav Anant, the founder of Bambrew, a green-tech startup manufacturing biodegradable, compostable, and plastic-free packaging alternatives has built a successful sustainable packaging business, that too, earning Rs 2 crore a month.

How Bengaluru NIFT alumnus ventured into sustainable packaging

According to a report by The Better India, Vaibhav, born in Hazaribagh, Jharkhand, grew up in a middle class family. He went on to pursue a Bachelor's degree in Fashion Technology (B.FTech) at the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Bengaluru. After graduating, he began his professional journey at an ed-tech startup in Delhi.


In 2018, Vaibhav got inspired by the Government of India’s public decision to phase out single-use plastics by 2022. The subject of single-use plastic (SUP) and its ill-effects, intrigued him. So, Vaibhav quit his job and established Bambrew in August, creating alternatives to SUP straws before eventually foraying into packaging.

Materials used and produced

Initially, Bambrew manufactured an array of eco-friendly packaging products from natural ingredients like bamboo, wood pulp, sugarcane, and seaweed. As per Vaibhav, the company’s products are 100% handmade and sourced from different tribal communities from across the country. As per a report by ET HospitalityWorld, Bambrew has managed to reduce more than 10,000 tons of plastic.

When asked why Vaibhav chose bamboo as the base of the product, he told ET that bamboo us one of the most easily available items in India which can be harvested for 60 years. The CEO noted that the country is also the second-largest producer of bamboo and hence is available in abundance. Moreover the cost of producing such sustainable packaging is at par with plastic. In conclusion, Vaibhav shared that the pulp from bamboo and wood used are even Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified.

Final takeaway

According to The Better India, Bambrew has tie-ups with numerous leading business entities like Amazon, Nykaa, 1MG, Puma, Chumbak, Big Basket, Myntra, Flipkart, Aditya Birla, and Accessorize London. Last year, the company rolled out a direct-to-consumer (D2C) range including biodegradable garbage bags, bamboo paper towels, toilet rolls, sanitary disposal pouches, and pet waste bags. Their products are available in more than 10 countries now.