Meet the Man Who Turns Trash into Fashion and Earns Rs 60 Lakh a Year

The Incredible Story of Unirec: The Sustainable Fashion Brand that Recycles 12 Bottles per Garment. Each Item Keeps 12 Bottles From Landfills: Brand Turns Plastic to Cloth, Earns Rs 60L/Yr

Plastic waste is one of the biggest environmental challenges of our time. According to a report by the World Economic Forum, there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean by 2050 if current trends continue. Plastic pollution not only harms marine life, but also contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change.

But what if we could turn plastic waste into something useful and fashionable? That's the idea behind Unirec, a sustainable fashion brand that creates clothes from recycled plastic bottles. Founded by Kapil Bhatia in 2021, Unirec aims to reduce plastic waste and carbon footprint by transforming it into high-quality garments for men.

How it works

Unirec sources its raw material from PET bottle recycling plants across India. PET stands for polyethylene terephthalate, a type of plastic commonly used for beverage bottles. The bottles are cleaned, shredded, melted and spun into polyester yarns, which are then woven or knitted into fabrics. The fabrics are dyed with eco-friendly colours and stitched into various garments such as shirts, blazers, trousers and T-shirts.

Each garment made by Unirec recycles around 12 PET bottles, saving them from entering landfills or oceans. The garments are also durable, comfortable and easy to maintain. Unirec claims that its products have a 50% lower carbon footprint than conventional cotton garments.

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The market and the impact

Unirec mainly caters to the corporate sector, providing uniforms and promotional apparel for various service industries and government organisations. Some of its clients include banks, hotels, airlines, hospitals and NGOs. Unirec also sells its products online through its website and other e-commerce platforms.

Since its inception in 2021, Unirec has manufactured over 50,000 garments from recycled plastic bottles, diverting over 600,000 bottles from landfills and oceans. The brand has also generated a revenue of Rs 60 lakh in its first year of operation.

Unirec's founder Kapil Bhatia says that his vision is to create a circular economy for plastic waste and promote sustainable fashion in India. He says that he was inspired by his son's concern for the environment and his own experience in the garment industry.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar wearing a Unirec jacket, Picture source: Kapil

"I want to create awareness among people about the benefits of recycling plastic and how it can be used to make fashionable clothes. I also want to encourage other entrepreneurs to adopt eco-friendly practices and innovations," he says.

Unirec is a shining example of how entrepreneurship can solve environmental problems and create social impact. By turning plastic waste into cloth, Unirec is not only saving resources and reducing emissions, but also creating value and beauty out of trash. Unirec is a brand that truly cares for the planet and its people.