Grand finale to Textile Grand Challenge 2019 to phase out plastic bags

31 August 2020: Union Minister of Textiles Smriti Irani recently presented the award to winners of the Textile Grand Challenge 2019. A total of 67 entries were received for the Challenge out of which 3 participants – 2 for ideas on alternative for single use plastic bags and 1 for idea on alternative for multi-use plastic bags were selected and awarded by the Ministry with cash prizes. The winners (Start Ups) are: Awega Green Technologies, Pune; Dhriti BioSolutions, Mysuru and Sakthi NonWovens, Chennai.

The Textile Grand Challenge was organized by the Ministry of Textiles with the support of National Jute Board and the Start up India Team of the Department for Promotion of Industry & Industrial Trade (DPIIT). The aim of organizing this historic event was to bring forward innovative ideas by start-ups/entrepreneurs for development of cost effective and low-weight carry bags using Jute Bio-mass, Jute Plant based bio-polymer and cotton fibre waste tophase out plastic bags. It is also an initiative towards ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ and ‘Make in India’ under which innovative solutions were sought for (i) Alternative to single use Plastic bags and (ii) Alternative to Multi-use Plastic bags, using domestically grown natural fibres viz; Jute and Cotton.

Speaking on the occasion, Smriti Irani said that the contribution of innovative ideas by the participants is an indication that the legacy of India is steeped in equal opportunities for all. She said that the innovative spirit of India needs to be institutionalized for developing eco-friendly and cost-friendly alternative ideas. She stressed on the need to upgrade textiles machine technology especially in the jute sector and proposed to organize a Grand Machinery Challenge for the Textile Sector to throw up new technologies.