‘Flowercycling’ technologies to reduce the pollution | Ankit Agarwal | TEDxBHIS Kanpur Youth

Key Concepts

• Flower Cycling: The process of collecting, processing, and repurposing waste flowers, particularly from temples, to create valuable products.
• Fluorophoam: A biodegradable alternative to polystyrene (thermocol) made from flower waste.
• TajMel: A leather alternative created from temple flower waste, offering a sustainable and ethical material.
• Manual Scavenging: The practice of manually cleaning human waste, a deeply entrenched social issue in India.
• NMCG (National Mission for Clean Ganga): The Indian government body responsible for cleaning the Ganges River.
• Organophosphates & Metallic Residues: Harmful chemicals present in pesticides used on flowers, polluting water bodies.

The Problem of Temple Waste & The Ganges River Pollution

The speaker begins by highlighting a significant environmental issue: the disposal of approximately 8 million metric tons of waste flowers annually into the Ganges River in India. These flowers, often laden with pesticides and insecticides, contribute to the river’s pollution, damaging its fragile ecosystem. The speaker emphasizes that this practice, while widespread, is rarely considered a source of pollution. He recounts a pivotal moment in 2016 when his friend, Kuba, visiting from the Czech Republic, was shocked by the visible pollution and the continued practice of devotees bathing and consuming water from the heavily polluted Ganges, particularly during Makar Sakranti. Kuba’s question – “Why are these people even doing this? They’ll get cancer” – sparked the speaker’s determination to address the issue. The speaker points out the deeply ingrained cultural belief that the Ganges is a sacred goddess capable of purifying sins, which contributes to the acceptance of its polluted state. Initial research revealed a lack of data on both temple waste and the total number of temples in India, highlighting the scale of the unaddressed problem.

From Idea to Tanpur Flower Cycling Private Limited

Driven by Kuba’s challenge and a personal observation of flowers being discarded, the speaker decided to take action. He quit his job as an automation scientist at Semantic Operations, invested 72,000 rupees, and embarked on a journey of business plan competitions to secure funding. This culminated in the registration of Tanpur Flower Cycling Private Limited in 2017. The initial product was incense sticks (Agarbatti) made by replacing charcoal with flower waste. The speaker acknowledges the initial skepticism and price resistance – their incense was 16 times more expensive than conventional options. However, through perseverance and a focus on quality, the company now sells approximately 138 incense packs per minute across India. He emphasizes the scientific rigor applied to their incense production, ensuring zero carbon and sulfur content, positioning it as a home fragrance alternative rather than solely a religious offering. The incense market in India is valued at $6.2 billion, and Tanpur has successfully ignited this “jaded category.”

Expanding Beyond Incense: Fluorophoam & TajMel

Recognizing the vast amount of flower waste generated, the speaker sought more comprehensive solutions. This led to the development of Fluorophoam, a biodegradable alternative to thermocol (polystyrene). Thermocol is identified as the world’s fifth biggest pollutant, with 91% being single-use and derived from carcinogenic petroleum hydrocarbons. Through collaboration with IIT Kanpur, the company successfully created a prototype and now supplies Fluorophoam to two major Indian appliance manufacturers, with rapid scaling underway. Further research and development, building on the breakthroughs in Fluorophoam, resulted in TajMel, a leather alternative made entirely from temple flower waste. TajMel boasts zero plastic polymers, zero recycled leather, and zero rubber, and is completely biodegradable. The company has secured five patents for this innovative material, with all machinery and processes developed in-house in Kpur. The speaker contrasts the 3-year growth cycle of a cow for leather with TajMel’s 3-week production time, highlighting its efficiency and sustainability. Funding from PVH (parent company of Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klein) demonstrates the material’s potential in the fashion industry.

Addressing Social Issues: Empowering Manual Scavengers

The speaker connects the environmental mission with a critical social issue: manual scavenging. He highlights the plight of India’s 1.6 million manual scavengers, who are forced to clean human waste in unsanitary and degrading conditions. He points out that in Kpur, 40% of the population lacks proper sanitation systems, perpetuating this cycle of exploitation. Tanpur Flower Cycling actively employs over 500 women from this marginalized community, providing them with dignified employment and a disease-free life. He shares a poignant story of Preman, an employee who was previously denied access to clean water due to her caste, but was able to purchase a refrigerator through her earnings at Tanpur, allowing her children to share water with neighbors, symbolizing a shift in social equality.

The Broader Impact & Conclusion

The speaker concludes by emphasizing that his work is not merely about cleaning waste but about addressing historical injustices. He recounts representing Kpur and Tanpur’s work on global platforms, contributing to a growing movement of flower cycling across India, with other incense brands now offering flower-based alternatives. He reiterates the company’s commitment to ensuring no flowers enter the waters in the cities where they operate. The speaker’s journey demonstrates a powerful example of how innovation, driven by a personal connection to a problem and a commitment to social and environmental responsibility, can create meaningful change. He frames his work as a continuation of efforts to rectify the wrongs of past generations, aiming for a cleaner and more equitable future.