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Babulal: A Visionary Who Turned Plastic Waste Into Possibility
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It all began with a powerful question from Mr. Babulal Shiradana: What if plastic waste could become a resource instead of a crisis? Along with Lt Cdr Abhishek Tiwari, a Navy veteran and former Amazon operations leader, Babulal is building a movement rooted in circularity, community upliftment, and environmental healing. With academic grounding from IISc Bengaluru in Sustainability & Smart Cities and incubation experience at IIM Bangalore NSRCEL and Jagriti Green Cohort, he brings deep expertise in recycling supply chains and plastic systems. Abhishek strengthens the mission with his mastery in logistics, quality processes, and operational precision. Together, they envision a future where plastic recovery not only cleans the environment but also empowers communities, especially women, across India’s 24+ million-ton plastic challenge.
Circularity is not just about waste-it’s about giving people, materials and eecosystems a second life.![]()
At the heart of Babulal’s work is a mission rarely addressed at scale: the recycling of flexible plastics. His “Women in Circularity” model is more than a processing system—it is a social movement. By collecting, processing, and transforming flexible plastics into market-ready recycled materials, he brings true circularity into focus. His hub-and-spoke model begins with a 20-ton-per-month processing capacity in Phase 1, with a planned scale-up to 500 tons per month, strengthening EPR supply chains and enabling design-for-recycling practices. Most importantly, the model creates dignity and economic independence for women, giving them employment, ownership, and representation in a sector traditionally dominated by informal labour. Under Babulal’s leadership, plastic waste became learning, livelihood, and long-term environmental value.
DPurpose Foundation engaged with Babulal’s initiative through the Waste2Purpose event, where the most promising waste-tech innovators were invited to present their solutions. His women-led circularity model quickly stood out. Investors reviewed his proposal during pre-event screenings, followed by an in-depth Google Meet discussion where Babulal and Abhishek impressed stakeholders with their clarity, cost model, and impact vision. During the event, they showcased their recycled products from study pads and vegetable storage boxes to processed-plastic materials, capturing the room with their innovation and commitment. Their pitch before government officials, experts, and industry leaders opened doors to deeper evaluations, and investor discussions continue in the next phase.
Babulal’s journey represents the future India must move toward a future where plastic becomes purposeful, where women drive decentralised recycling ecosystems, and where sustainability creates real economic independence. His work proves that when strong design meets community-led systems, environmental challenges transform into opportunities for empowerment. DPurpose Foundation is proud to walk alongside innovators like Babulal and looks forward to seeing his model scale district by district, shaping a plastic-resilient and inclusive tomorrow.
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