How Two Brothers from Bihar Built a ₹1.2 Crore Business from Plastic Waste
In childhood, most Indian homes reused plastic bags and gave old things a second life. Instead of throwing away old things, they were given a new form. What was once a simple habit of frugality has now become the foundation of a thriving circular economy business.
Well, two brothers from Bihar built a ₹1.2 crore business from plastic waste.
Rahul Kumar and Vikash Kumar, two brothers from Nawada in Bihar, turned the practice of reusing plastic into a company- Minus Degre, a company that transforms discarded plastic into furniture, corporate gifts, and interior products.
From a modest beginning of just 30,000 to generating 1.2 crores in FY2024-25, their journey is the best example of sustainability and persistence.
Childhood lessons became the foundation of the business
The Kumar brothers grew up in a middle-class family in Nawada in Bihar. Their father is a medical practitioner, and their mother is a homemaker. Along with formal education, their parents gave them freedom to think independently and experiment.
Later, Vikash pursued mechanical engineering and completed his master's from IIT Delhi. Rahul, meanwhile, completed his graduation in textile design from NIFT Delhi. One has experience in engineering, and the other has experience in design; this combination has become the strength of Minus Degre.
While studying in Delhi, the Kumar brothers started experimenting with plastic recycling. During their experiment, they realised that discarded plastic can become a strong, attractive, and functional material. Rahul Kumar says, “During our childhood, we saw our grandparents reuse everything. At that time, it was not called sustainability, but it was a part of life. When we started working with plastic, we realised that the problem is not plastic but our thinking towards it. If waste is made beautiful and useful, people will understand its value instead of throwing it away.”
How tough was Minus Degre's journey
With just a budget of 30,000 and limited resources, Minus Degre's journey started. The initial setup cost around 10,000, and the machine was built at a cost of approximately ₹15,000 to ₹20,000.
The Kumar brothers started the business without any external funds, and initial earnings were reinvested in the business. First, they started with making jewellery products, then they shifted to corporate gifting. Gradually, they expanded into furniture, eco-panels, and larger interior projects.
In 2020, their revenue was just 5000, but slowly, through consistent experimentation, quality focus, and customer acquisition, they scaled to ₹1.2 crore+ in FY24-25, all while remaining completely bootstrapped, with no external funding.
There were numerous challenges along the way. Bank loans were hard to secure. Payments got delayed. Projects stalled. But the brothers persisted, reinvesting every rupee earned back into the business.
The founder says, “Over the past five years, there were many times when it felt that perhaps moving forward would now be difficult. Getting a loan from a bank was not easy. We applied under several schemes, but there were many challenges at the ground level. Many times, projects stopped, payments were delayed, and the future appeared uncertain. But every time, we thought that if the problem is so big, then the solution is equally necessary.”
Transforming Waste into Premium Material
Minus Degre was not started with the idea of just recycling the plastic waste, but the aim was to increase the economic value of waste. Minus Degre doesn’t just recycle plastic; it innovates with it. They believe that until the economic utility of waste is increased, a strong system for its collection and recycling cannot be developed.
The company collects plastic waste from recyclers and waste-collection networks. After this, it is divided into different categories. Following cleaning and processing, the same plastic is used to produce premium panels, furniture, corporate gifts, trophies, medals, and interior products.
The Minus Degre claims that their products were made from 100% recycled plastic waste and can be recycled again.
Founder emphasises, “We don’t see ourselves as just a recycling company. Our goal is to become a material innovation company. Through design and engineering, we want to create materials that can replace virgin resources across industries.”
Products made for Adidas, Tata EV, Rashtrapati Bhavan, and Noida Airport
The challenge is to change people's perception about recycled products, because they believe recycled products are cheap, but Minus Degre has somewhat changed this belief by working for some renowned names. However, producing high-quality recycled material involves higher expenditure on research, design, processing, and advanced manufacturing.
Gradually, the company received opportunities to work with major brands.
Eco-panels were installed in Adidas stores through Shark Shopfit.
Minus Degre’s recycled material was used in several Westside stores.
Recycled panels and furniture were prepared for eight Tata EV experience stores.
Sustainable products were prepared for Rashtrapati Bhavan in collaboration with Rare Planet.
Over 90 seating modules were supplied for the arrivals terminal at Noida International Airport
These big wins helped change perceptions. Clients began to see that recycled materials could match or even exceed the quality and aesthetics of virgin materials.
Addressing India’s Plastic Waste Crisis
India generates around 41 lakh tonnes of plastic waste annually. Globally, only about 9% of plastic is effectively recycled. Companies like Minus Degre are critical to building a stronger circular economy.
By creating economic value from waste, they incentivise better collection systems and reduce landfill burden.
The government’s focus on circular economy principles, Plastic Waste Management Rules, and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is creating a supportive environment for such ventures.
The two brothers also aim to strengthen their presence in the international market. They believe that India can provide sustainable alternatives to the world in the fields of design, engineering, and manufacturing.
The goal is now not just plastic, but creating new materials
When most people see plastic waste, they see pollution. Rahul Kumar and Vikash Kumar saw opportunity and a chance to build something far bigger than recycling.
The two brothers from Nawada, Bihar, started Minus Degre with a clear mission: transform discarded plastic into premium, functional products. Today, their company has grown into a material innovation powerhouse, supplying everything from eco-panels.
The company is actively researching and developing solutions from:
Textile waste
Agricultural waste
Other unconventional sources
This broader approach positions Minus Degre at the intersection of design, engineering, and sustainability. By combining technical expertise with creative design, they aim to develop high-performance materials for furniture, construction, automotive, and interior applications.
Looking Ahead: Expanding the Vision
Minus Degre is now scaling production capacity and developing larger panels with new finishes. The company is also researching new materials from textile and agricultural waste.
The brothers aim to strengthen their international presence and position India as a hub for sustainable material innovation.
Their ultimate goal goes beyond plastic to create a broader platform for material innovation that serves industries while protecting the environment.