Biodegradable Plastic Startup BhavishayaPlast Wins Big on Shark Tank

Plastic pollution is one of the most pressing environmental concerns globally, and BhavishayaPlast aims to tackle this issue with a groundbreaking solution. During an intense pitch on Shark Tank India Season 4, entrepreneur Pallavi from Kolkata presented her innovative startup, offering affordable biodegradable plastic alternatives that could disrupt the traditional plastic industry. Her unique approach to sustainable materials caught the attention of multiple sharks, leading to an exciting negotiation.

Related: Ecoil’s Waste-to-Energy Innovation Gains Recognition on Shark Tank India

To convince the sharks, Pallavi demonstrated the unique properties of her product:

• Unlike other bioplastics, it does not dissolve in water, ensuring durability.
• Fully compostable in 90 days, eliminating long-term waste.
• Reinforced structure makes it as sturdy as petroleum-based plastic.

Shark Ritesh Agarwal raised concerns about commercial scalability and pricing competitiveness. Pallavi responded confidently, explaining that her product’s cost-effectiveness stemmed from waste broken rice, which is priced at ₹20/kg, unlike corn starch-based bioplastics that cost ₹100-150/kg.

Pallavi, a chemical engineer and gold medalist, spent over a decade in the petroleum industry, conducting extensive market research. During this period, she identified a major sustainability gap: while oil marketing companies had sustainability mandates, the plastic industry was lagging behind. This realization led her to create RBG Future Plastics, an innovative, cost-effective biodegradable plastic derived from an unexpected raw material—waste broken rice.

How BhavishayaPlast Was Born

Pallavi’s inspiration stemmed from India’s ethanol blending program, which focuses on creating sustainable alternatives for fuel. This led her to explore similar solutions for the plastic industry. Through years of research and development, and in collaboration with Jadavpur University, she developed a patented biodegradable plastic that mimicked petroleum-based plastics while being fully compostable in just 90 days.

Unlike conventional bioplastics that dissolve in water, BhavishayaPlast’s material is heat and water-resistant, making it viable for applications like:

• Plastic emulsion paints
• Packaging solutions
• Car seat covers

Pallavi pitched with a shocking statistic, by the age of 60, an average person consumes nearly 700 kilograms of plastic.

She then presented her solution, requesting an investment of ₹50 lakh for 1.5% equity. Her business not only offered an eco-friendly alternative but also positioned itself as a cost-competitive substitute to petroleum-based plastics.

Shark Namita Thapar praised the concept, emphasizing that India contributes 20% to global plastic pollution. However, she was curious about Pallavi’s journey and what motivated her to pursue this field. Pallavi detailed her transition from the petroleum sector to sustainable material research and how she accidentally discovered this biodegradable alternative during her work on ethanol blending.

Impressed by her clarity, research, and business acumen, multiple sharks expressed interest in investing. However, Ritesh opted out, citing uncertainty about bioplastics’ scalability in India’s market. This led to a heated bidding war among the remaining sharks:

• Shark Namita Thapar: ₹50 lakh for 5% equity
• Shark Aman Gupta: ₹50 lakh for 5% equity, conditional on securing a major client
• Shark Chirag Nakrani: ₹50 lakh for 5% equity, with a focus on B2B expansion
• Shark Anupam Mittal: Initially hesitant but later proposed ₹1 crore for 5% equity, offering strategic mentorship and connections

After intense back-and-forth negotiations, a joint deal was finalized:

• ₹2 crore for 10% equity (valuing BhavishayaPlast at ₹20 crore)
• Investors: Anupam Mittal, Aman Gupta, Namita Thapar, and Chirag Nakrani
• The sharks promised support in manufacturing, scaling, and business development

With a strong team of investors, BhavishayaPlast is now positioned to scale its production, strengthen its B2B partnerships, and expand into global markets. The company’s next steps include:

• Increasing production capacity to meet demand
• Collaborating with major industries for large-scale adoption
• Enhancing R&D efforts for future sustainable materials

BhavishayaPlast’s pitch on Shark Tank India was one of the most inspiring moments of the season. Pallavi’s dedication, innovation, and ability to communicate complex scientific concepts in simple terms impressed the sharks, securing a deal that will accelerate the startup’s mission to make plastic pollution a thing of the past. With a game-changing biodegradable plastic solution, BhavishayaPlast is set to redefine the future of eco-friendly materials in India and beyond.