India is dealing with a massive plastic waste problem, generating about 9.3 million tonnes (Mt) each year, according to a study from 2024 in the journal Nature. That breaks down to around 775,000 tonnes of plastic being tossed out every single day! To combat this issue, the country has been stepping up its game with initiatives to encourage recycling and spread the word about sustainability. Lots of people and groups are doing their part to give plastic waste a second chance.
Take K Sankar and his son, Senthil, for example. They’re recycling over 1.5 million bottles a day through their company, ‘Shree Renga Polymers’ in Tamil Nadu. Plus, they’ve started a clothing brand called EcoLine, which combines eco-friendliness with stylish design.
A Little About the Backstory
Ecoline’s story takes root in Shree Renga Polymers, showing the beginnings of Senthil’s journey, which is deeply connected with his father’s.
K Sankar is an IIT-Delhi alumnus specializing in Polymer Science and Technology. He gained diverse international experience across various roles in the polymer and plastics industry.
In 2008, he returned to Karur to establish Shree Renga Polymers, focusing on recycling PET bottles into vibrant polyester yarns. This was not K Sankar’s first step into entrepreneurship. In 1996, he attempted to recycle nylons and fish nets. Wow, different thinking in the late 90s, a man with a visionary mindset.
However, he faced substantial setbacks and fell into debt. And jaise ki every family thinks, they also decided to never re-enter the business world.
Witnessing his father’s struggles in Chennai, Senthil Sankar considered ki business karna apne log ke bas ka nahi. So, after completing his BTech in Mechanical Engineering at the Vellore Institute of Technology, he joined Tata Consultancy Services. He was making his own course—a safe course.
A Twist, No One Expected
It was 2007, when Guru movie was released. Everything for him changed after he saw the Bollywood movie. He was immensely encouraged by the life story of Dhirubhai Ambani. So, he thought he’d work for a bit, get his MBA, and then dive into his journey as an entrepreneur.
A Decision He Never Regrets
Senthil decided to try his luck in the business world alongside his father at Shree Renga Polymers. This decision was both inspiring and driven by a deep-rooted desire to make a positive difference in society, despite his initial uncertainties. He even rejected the offer to move to Canada, and prioritized his commitment to his father’s enterprise instead.
He engulfed in reading and realized the real potential of India for substantial growth in the 21st century. To uplift his country, he left a high-paying job in Silicon Valley and took up the role of an entrepreneur. Who, in coming years, became a source to empower 500 peoples’ employment in Karur.
The Foundation of EcoLine Clothing by K Sankar and Senthil
In 2020, Senthil along with his wife Jayashree (a criminal lawyer), relocated to Karur to expand their family business.
This is when the Ecoline was founded in 2020. Since the family business was well-established in the textile industry, they found it easy to establish a brand because they believed, that will become the future.
HOW?
Witnessing the drastic climatic crisis across the world, people are shifting towards environmentally friendly choices. EcoLine aims to give them exactly that but at affordable rates.
So How Do They Pull This Off?
Their process for transforming plastic trash into trendy clothes can be broken down into five simple steps:
- Collection and sorting: They gather PET bottles from around 50,000 ragpickers in places like Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, and Puducherry
- Crushing and flaking: Once clean, the bottles are crushed into small flakes, usually about 3 to 8 millimeters.
- Melting and spinning: The PET flakes are heated to 300° C using a machine called an extrude
- Weaving the fabric: The yarn is woven into the fabric, which is the starting point for their clothing line
Strategically Priced
After all that, the final products are designed, stitched, and ready to be sold. Senthil shares that it takes about eight PET bottles to create a T-shirt, 20 for a jacket, and 30 for a blazer. Their clothes aren’t just eco-friendly—they’re also stylish and practical, with prices ranging from Rs 500 to Rs 6,000.
Bringing in about Rs 12 crore in yearly revenue and attracting customers from Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh, EcoLine is showing that sustainable fashion can be both a great business and a positive force for the environment.
Invaluable Recognition
Their hard work didn’t go unnoticed. In February 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wore one of their blue sadri jackets in Parliament, which was made from 25 recycled PET bottles. He even took it with him on trips to Japan and Australia! 😲
Planning your next eco-friendly purchase EcoLine is here.
