Mompreneur Samiksha Ganeriwal is creating biodegradable bottles with paper waste

Noida: While travelling on public transport or walking on the roads, one thing is seen very commonly, a plastic water bottle. "There are lots of paper bags available in the market to carry dry items, but what about carrying liquid?" asks Samiksha. This time, in our mompreneur series, we will introduce you to Samiksha Ganeriwal (39), a mother of two kids who is working towards giving a safer planet not only to her kids but to the rest of the world. She is a resident of Sector 15a.

Single-use plastic bags can pollute soil and water, threatening humans and wildlife alike. Environmentalists throughout the world are taking steps to ban its usage, to reduce marine and land-based plastic pollution, as well as the quantity of waste that ends up in landfills.

Samiksha's initiative Kagzi Paper Bottle Company is making waterproof bottles from waste paper so that the use of single-use plastic can be minimized. Thus, protecting the environment.

"There is no replacement of bottles, we are forced to purchase them whenever we are out. Eventually, I wondered why is no one making biodegradable bottles. This gave birth to the idea and after continuous research for 4 years, I started my company."  says Samiksha.

Samiksha says single-use plastic is unhealthy for people, especially young children. She adds, "As a mother, I know the need for this product. Hotels have also started using glass bottles but those too are not safe for children."

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The Kagzi Paper Bottle Company makes biodegradable bottles from waste papers sourced from a paper firm in Himachal Pradesh. Samiksha explains that these waterproof bottles can replace plastic bottles like shampoo, conditioner, milk, and curd.

"We are the first company in India to make waterproof bottles from 100 per cent compostable paper waste. These bottles are renewable, recyclable, compostable, and biodegradable."

She continues, "This option is much cheaper than a plastic bottle. The bottle will cost between Rs 12 to 18. The cost of making it will be much less than a plastic bottle. If we prepare this on a large scale, then its cost can be further reduced."

Samiksha explains that her team is made up of scientists, researchers, technical heads and manufacturers who are working with her on a part-time basis. "We do not have funding at this point, we are in collaboration with other companies, and we are collaborating with the firm who expertise in making the caps," she says.

Samiksha has studied B. Sc in Electronics from the Ferguson college, Pune and later did an MBA from Hyderabad. She has also worked in her family's packaging company in 2016. She says that her experience and education have given her hope in starting her company of biodegradable bottles.

CitySpidey enquired about the problem of the paper turning mushy after 5-6 hours. On this, Samiksha guarantees that her team is working on a product that will not turn mushy and will be leakproof not for a day or a month but for eight to nine months. "It will be a paper bottle and it will also look like a paper bottle but the magic will be it will not work as a paper," says she.

Samiksha says that she is working with innovative designs and models in biodegradable models for young kids. “We have created a prototype just now, it this concept and system work then we will come with a wide variety of shapes and colours to lure everyone into the market.”

Samisksha says that they are currently manufacturing the test samples. The product would be ready in six to eight months.