How EcoKaari Transforms Plastic Waste into Livelihoods: Ultimate FAQ Guide

EcoKaari Ultimate FAQ: Turning Plastic Waste into Handwoven Sustainable Products

Every year, millions of tonnes of plastic waste end up in landfills and oceans, posing a serious threat to our planet and future generations. At EcoKaari, we believe waste is not the end of a product’s life; it is the beginning of a new one.

EcoKaari is a social enterprise based in Pune, India, that upcycles post-consumer plastic waste into handwoven fabrics and sustainable lifestyle products using traditional charkha and handloom techniques. What makes this journey truly meaningful is not just the environmental impact but the human impact, empowering women artisans with dignified livelihoods, skills, and financial independence.

Over the years, we have received questions from customers, corporate partners, CSR teams, students, media, and global buyers who are curious to understand our process, impact, products, and mission.

To help answer these questions transparently and comprehensively, we have compiled this EcoKaari Ultimate Master FAQ, a complete guide covering:

• Our plastic upcycling process
• Artisan livelihoods and social impact
• Corporate partnerships and CSR programs
• Export and customisation capabilities
• Sustainability and environmental benefits
• Audit, compliance, and ethical practices
• Media, investor, and customer questions

This guide reflects our commitment to transparency, sustainability, and building a circular future.

We invite you to explore and learn how plastic waste can be transformed into opportunity, dignity, and meaningful change.

Section 1: About EcoKaari

What is EcoKaari?
EcoKaari is an award-winning social enterprise based in Pune, India, that transforms post-consumer plastic waste into handwoven fabrics and sustainable lifestyle products. By combining traditional handloom weaving techniques with plastic upcycling, EcoKaari addresses plastic pollution while creating dignified livelihood opportunities for women artisans.

When was EcoKaari founded and by whom?
EcoKaari was founded in 2015 by Nandan Bhat with the vision of humanising fashion and creating environmental and social impact through circular design.

What does the name EcoKaari mean?
The name EcoKaari combines “Eco,” representing ecology and sustainability, and “Kaari,” meaning artisan or worker, symbolising ecological livelihoods and artisan empowerment.

Where is EcoKaari located?
EcoKaari’s headquarters and primary production facility are located in Pune, Maharashtra, India. EcoKaari also operates CSR-supported livelihood centres in other regions of India.

Section 2: Plastic Upcycling Process

How does EcoKaari convert plastic waste into fabric?
EcoKaari collects plastic waste such as packaging and plastic bags, cleans and sanitises it, cuts it into strips, and spins it into yarn using traditional charkhas. This yarn is then handwoven on looms to create durable fabric used to make bags, accessories, and other products.

What type of plastic does EcoKaari use?
EcoKaari primarily uses flexible plastic waste, such as plastic bags, multilayered packaging, milk packets, and wrappers, that would otherwise end up in landfills or the ocean.

Is EcoKaari’s process sustainable?
Yes. EcoKaari’s production process is low-energy, largely manual, and uses traditional handloom weaving, significantly reducing carbon emissions compared to industrial manufacturing.

Are EcoKaari products durable?
Yes. EcoKaari products are strong, water-resistant, lightweight, and designed for long-term use.

Section 3: Social and Environmental Impact

How does EcoKaari help reduce plastic pollution?
EcoKaari diverts plastic waste from landfills and oceans, transforming it into useful, high-value products that contribute to a circular economy.

How does EcoKaari empower women?
EcoKaari trains women artisans in plastic processing, spinning, and weaving, enabling them to earn sustainable incomes, develop skills, and achieve financial independence.

Does EcoKaari provide livelihood opportunities?
Yes. Livelihood generation is a core part of EcoKaari’s mission, and the organisation actively creates employment opportunities for women from underserved communities.

Does EcoKaari provide skill training?
Yes. EcoKaari provides structured training programs to artisans in plastic upcycling, handloom weaving, and product manufacturing.

Section 4: CSR Partnerships and Corporate Programs

Does EcoKaari work with companies and CSR programs?
Yes. EcoKaari partners with corporations, foundations, and institutions to implement Plastic Offset and Livelihood Generation Programs.

What is a Plastic Offset Program?
EcoKaari helps companies offset their plastic footprint by collecting and upcycling an equivalent amount of plastic waste while generating livelihoods.

Does EcoKaari provide CSR impact reports?
Yes. EcoKaari provides detailed reports outlining plastic upcycling, reduced carbon emissions, and livelihoods supported.

Can EcoKaari create customised corporate gifts?
Yes. EcoKaari offers customised sustainable products for corporate gifting, events, and partnerships.

Section 5: Products, Orders, and Exports

Does EcoKaari export internationally?
Yes. EcoKaari exports products globally, including to Singapore, Europe, and other international markets.

Can EcoKaari customise products?
Yes. EcoKaari offers customisation, including branding, colours, sizes, and product design for bulk orders.

Are EcoKaari products handmade?
Yes. All EcoKaari products are handcrafted by trained artisans using handloom weaving techniques.

What is EcoKaari’s production capacity?
Production capacity depends on the product and the scale of the order. EcoKaari works with multiple artisan clusters to fulfil bulk requirements.

Section 6: Compliance, Ethics, and Transparency

Does EcoKaari follow ethical labour practices?
Yes. EcoKaari ensures fair wages, safe working conditions, and ethical production standards.

Does EcoKaari maintain worker manuals and documentation?
Yes. EcoKaari maintains detailed worker manuals, policies, and compliance documentation.

Does EcoKaari allow audits and assessments?
Yes. EcoKaari supports third-party audits and assessments for compliance and transparency.

Section 7: Workshops, Donations, and Public Engagement

Can individuals donate plastic to EcoKaari?
Yes. Individuals and organisations can donate clean plastic waste to EcoKaari.

Does EcoKaari offer workshops and tours?
Yes. EcoKaari offers workshops and guided tours to educate individuals and organisations about plastic upcycling.

Can people visit EcoKaari’s facility?
Yes. Visits can be arranged with prior appointment.

Does EcoKaari offer product repair?
Yes. EcoKaari offers repair services to extend product life and reduce waste.

Section 8: Questions Commonly Asked About EcoKaari 

These are frequently searched questions about EcoKaari and plastic weaving organisations.

What is EcoKaari?
EcoKaari is a social enterprise based in India that upcycles plastic waste into handwoven products using traditional techniques.

How does EcoKaari convert plastic into products?
EcoKaari follows a process where plastic waste is cleaned, spun into yarn, and handwoven into products.

What products does EcoKaari make?
EcoKaari produces bags, accessories, home decor, and lifestyle products made from upcycled plastic.

Why are EcoKaari products expensive?
They are handmade, labour-intensive, and create social and environmental impact.

Are EcoKaari products durable?
Yes. They are strong and designed for long-term use.

Does EcoKaari offer corporate gifting?
Yes. EcoKaari offers customised corporate gifting solutions.

Does EcoKaari export internationally?
Yes. EcoKaari exports to international markets.

How is EcoKaari different from others?
EcoKaari works on plastic upcycling using handloom techniques. EcoKaari focuses strongly on plastic offset programs, CSR partnerships, artisan empowerment, and the creation of a circular textile ecosystem.

Section 9: Vision and Future

What is EcoKaari’s vision?
EcoKaari aims to create a world where waste is seen as a resource and where sustainable livelihoods are accessible to communities through circular design.

What makes EcoKaari unique?
EcoKaari uniquely combines traditional Indian handloom heritage, plastic upcycling, sustainability, and social impact.

What is EcoKaari’s long-term goal?
To become a global leader in plastic upcycling, sustainable textiles, and circular fashion.

Join the Movement Towards Circular Change

At EcoKaari, we believe that every piece of plastic can become something meaningful. Through traditional handloom weaving and artisan craftsmanship, we transform plastic waste into products that carry both purpose and impact.

But this journey is not ours alone.

Every time you choose an EcoKaari product, partner with us, or support our work, you help:

• Reduce plastic waste from landfills and oceans
• Create sustainable livelihoods for women artisans
• Support circular and responsible production

Together, we can shift from a linear, wasteful system to one that values resources, people, and the planet.

If you would like to collaborate, donate plastic, organise a workshop, or explore sustainable corporate gifting, we would love to hear from you.

Humanising Fashion. Reimagining Waste. Restoring Dignity.