The complexities of waste management and treatment is being exacerbated by rapid urbanization, changing consumer patterns and population growth. India, by virtue of its population size generates the most waste globally. To further move the needle towards a circular economy, innovations are necessary all along the waste management spectrum. Innovative solutions creating an efficient supply chain and maximizing the value of different waste streams can exponentially reduce the burden on the landfills. In India, the informal sector are the true champions of circularity, enabling material recovery through recycling. The timing is opportune, with the on-going technological advancements, the waste management sector is poised to create opportunities for climate change mitigation, economic growth, and livelihood enhancement of everyone involved.
Techtonic – Innovations in Waste Management is a joint initiative of Social Alpha and the H&M Foundation, in collaboration with Saamuhika Shakti. It envisions to create an enabling ecosystem stack for innovators and entrepreneurs developing solutions to accelerate waste management and improve the overall quality of life of the informal sector in India.
Through Techtonic – Innovations in Waste Management 4 winners will be selected for the Social Alpha Waste Innovations Accelerator, supporting the start-ups in their lab to market journey.
Problem Statements
We invited innovators and entrepreneurs working on science and technology solutions that have the potential to create impact, scale across geographies and demonstrate business model sustainability to apply. Enterprises working on any of the following challenges in waste management:
In India, despite 20% of the municipal revenue expenditures being allocated to MSWM, the collection, segregation, and resource recovery rates are very poor. This resource intensive sector can optimize the process of handling, transporting, and processing waste by adopting innovative solutions to establish efficient systems, enable microentrepreneurial models and reduce the economic burden on ULBs.
Only 22-28% of the 80% of the collected waste is being processed and treated in India. In the fragmented ecosystem, there is no data of total waste generated, processed or its composition. The sector primarily relies on offline transactions to manage waste, with no system to connect bulk producers to the recycled rates of their products. Real time data can also empower the waste picker operations and create visibility to the recyclers’ activities for waste pickers to unlock the benefits.
In circularity, the pursuit is to use as much, or all the waste in a productive manner, ensuring material recovery to transform it into a raw material or recycling, promoting industrial symbiosis and downcycling. Reverse supply chains need to be established to be able to aggregate waste streams at scale. There is also an urgent need for innovative solutions promoting material recovery and value-added applications of low value waste streams to extract as much resource from the waste generated.
Program Offerings
Focus on market validation with Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), public or private institutions.
Curated set of knowledge offerings to create a marketing plan and design digital support tools.
Potential opportunity to access Social Alpha’s seed support and pitch to a large and diverse investor and donor network.
Dedicated Portfolio Managers to assist with developing go-to-market strategy and overall business advisory.
Mentorship by a set of qualified global and local experts from the waste management sector.
Wide ranging technology and business support through Social Alpha’s venture acceleration model.
Partners
Meet the Cohort
- LoopwormMay 31, 2024
Loopworm - MuddleartMay 31, 2024
Muddleart - PhoolMay 31, 2024
Phool - Swachha Eco SolutionsMay 31, 2024
Swachha Eco Solutions