Kanpur Municipal Commissioner Shri Arpit Upadhyay felicitates five startups developing technology-led solutions across plastic waste management, recycling and sustainable materials

Kanpur, October 08, 2026: Five startups developing innovative solutions to address plastic waste and advance circularity showcased their technologies at IIT Kanpur as the first cohort of Advaya – Plastic Circularity Innovation Launchpad reached a key milestone in its incubation journey.

The Cohort 1 Product Showcase was organised by the Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC), IIT Kanpur, with the support of the Pernod Ricard India Foundation (PRIF). The programme is designed to support technology-driven startups developing scalable solutions across the plastic waste value chain.

Shri Arpit Upadhyay, Municipal Commissioner, Kanpur Municipal Corporation, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest and felicitated the five startups from Cohort 1. He also interacted with the founders to understand their technologies, applications and potential for wider deployment.

The event was attended by Shri V. K. Verma, Director, MSME-DFO, Kanpur; Shri Amit Bajpai, Assistant Director, MSME-DFO, Kanpur; and Mr. Akash Singh, Plant Head – Kanpur, Pernod Ricard India Foundation, along with Prof. Deepu Philip, Professor-in-Charge, SIIC, IIT Kanpur, and Dr. Ashutosh Agnihotri, CEO, SIIC, IIT Kanpur.

Advaya is a startup incubation and acceleration programme aimed at accelerating India’s transition towards a circular plastic economy. It supports startups working across areas such as plastic waste collection, segregation, recycling, reuse and material substitution through grants, structured incubation, mentorship and ecosystem access, enabling them to strengthen their technologies and progress towards market readiness and real-world deployment.

The Product Showcase brought together innovations addressing different stages of the circularity value chain. Rau Ecostone (Paving+) showcased construction materials developed using plastic and industrial waste, while Zuviron presented building and décor panels made entirely from recycled materials. SwachhAI Technologies demonstrated AI-enabled smart bins for automated waste segregation, and Fruvetech showcased recycled-plastic cold-storage solutions aimed at reducing post-harvest losses. Mushloop presented mycelium-based compostable packaging and natural pigments as sustainable material alternatives.

The showcase marked an important milestone for the first cohort, providing the startups an opportunity to demonstrate the progress made during the programme and engage with representatives from government, industry and the innovation ecosystem. The interactions explored pathways for scaling, market adoption and translating circularity-focused technologies into practical applications.

The event also marked the beginning of the next phase of Advaya, with eight startups from Cohort 2 namely Reearthtech Innovations Private Limited, NECRV Biopolymerix Private Limited, Minus Degre Manufacturers Private Limited, EarthImpact Innovations Private Limited, Bharga Biotech and Re-Energy Solutions Private Limited, Plasticure Private Limited, EpixO Robotics Private Limited and Athar Packaging Solutions Private Limited, commencing their residential training at IIT Kanpur. The training includes expert-led sessions on business models, waste management, scaling and investment readiness, providing the startups with a structured foundation for the next stage of their development.

Through Advaya, SIIC, IIT Kanpur and the Pernod Ricard India Foundation are working to strengthen the technology-driven ventures addressing plastic waste and resource circularity, while creating pathways for promising innovations to progress from prototypes towards scalable, real-world applications.

About Advaya – Plastic Circularity Innovation Launchpad

Advaya – Plastic Circularity Innovation Launchpad, supported by the Pernod Ricard India Foundation and implemented by FIRST, IIT Kanpur, is a startup incubation and acceleration programme focused on technology-driven solutions across the plastic waste value chain. The programme provides startups with financial support, structured incubation, mentorship and ecosystem access to help strengthen their technologies and business models and advance towards market readiness and real-world deployment.

About IIT Kanpur

The Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, established in 1959, is recognised as an Institute of National Importance by the Government of India. Renowned for excellence in science, engineering, and interdisciplinary education, IIT Kanpur spans a 1,050-acre lush green campus and comprises 20 departments, 27 centres, three interdisciplinary programmes, and three specialised schools. With over 570 faculty members and more than 9,500 students, the institute continues to lead in innovation, research, and holistic development.

For more information, please visit: www.iitk.ac.in