India produces 3.4 million tons of plastic waste annually, with only 30% recycled.

By 2031, the municipal solid waste generated in India is projected to reach 165 million tons, and further up to 436 million tons by 2050.

In India, there are approximately 1.5-4 million informal waste pickers.

OVERVIEW

Street waste collectors, itinerant buyers, and sorters in scrap shops and dry waste collection centres (collectively referred to as waste pickers) are a vital part of the country’s waste management system. Waste pickers in India play a multifaceted role in climate action, contributing to waste reduction, resource recovery, GHG emission reduction, circular economy promotion, community engagement, and inclusive urban development.  While they play a critical role in society, they face a myriad of challenges, including social stigma, absence of legal recognition, and limited access to health, safety, and social security benefits. They work in precarious conditions and are exposed to health hazards without adequate protective measures.   

Integrating waste pickers into formal waste management systems, providing them with fair remuneration, and ensuring their access to health and safety measures can amplify their positive impact.  With a strong alignment with H&M Foundation’s vision of enabling waste pickers to become key players in a global circular system, Social Alpha joined Phase 1 of the Saamuhika Shakti initiative in 2020. As we embark on Phase 2, we aim to support start-ups who are on the path to creating breakthrough innovations for a circular economy while providing agency to waste picker families to lead secure and dignified lives.  

Focus Areas

Sustainable Production and Consumption
Waste Collection and Segregation Efficiency
India generates over 160,000 tonnes of solid waste per day, with 50% treated, while the remaining is either landfilled or unaccounted for. Inadequacy of infrastructure present to manage this waste calls for an efficient and systemic approach to address issues around insufficient segregation at source, poor collection systems, and presence of an unregulated informal sector. Potential solutions include (but are not limited to):

  • Cost efficient collection, segregation of various waste streams while improving the traceability across the value chain.
  • Inclusion of digital platforms that enable real-time monitoring and optimisation of waste collection routes.
  • Automated sorting technologies which use AI/ML, sensors, spectroscopy etc. for high accuracy and speed of waste segregation.
Innovative Recycling and Resource Recovery Solutions
Prevailing recycling systems cannot produce high value products because the recycled product loses quality and degrades from the second cycle onwards. There is a need for cutting-edge recycling technologies that can process larger quantities and varied streams of waste, while also producing higher quality recycled materials which can be brought back into the value chain to create a circular economy. Potential solutions include (but are not limited to):

  • Advanced recycling solutions such as segregation of blended fabrics, depolymerisation of polymers, processing and reuse of multi-layered-plastics etc.
  • Existing recycling technologies with incremental innovations towards improved efficiency, higher quality of output and reduced cost.
  • Technologies to extract high value materials from multiple waste streams such as sanitary waste, electronic waste etc.

Winning Cohort

Program Offerings

Market Validation: 9 start-ups to be supported with funding of INR 20 lakhs each to implement a pilot.
Knowledge Services: Curated set of offerings to provide support on digitization or marketing and branding.
Go-To-Market Strategy : 1-year long incubation at Social Alpha with dedicated portfolio managers to assist with developing go-to-market strategy and overall business advisory.
Mentorship: One on one engagement & mentorship with experts from the waste management sector, and technology and business support through sectoral experts.
Funding Support : Opportunity to access seed capital of up to INR 1 Cr per start-up, subject to Social Alpha’s due diligence.

Our Partners

frequently asked questions
frequently asked questions

1. Who can apply for the program?

Organizations with innovative solutions in the waste management space and working with the informal sector, i.e., waste pickers, with scope to employ their family members. Organizations with the potential to create impact, scale across locations and demonstrate business model sustainability. Organizations registered in India are eligible to apply for the program.

2. What if I am not working with the informal sector? Can I still apply for the program?

Yes, you may apply if your solution has demonstrated impact and business model sustainability. The top 8 shortlisted applicants will need to build a one-year implementation plan to demonstrate their innovation by integrating members from informal waste picker families into their operations. The winners will get to implement this one-year plan during the pilot implementation.

3. What benefits can I avail from this program?

Winners will receive incubation support covering one or many of the following depending on their needs assessment:

  • Grant support of up to INR 20 Lakhs.
  • Hands-on operational support for commercial grade product development, assistance with designing, rapid prototyping, and design for manufacturing.
  • Access to marketing and digitisation credits.
  • Operational support, business mentorship and go-to-market strategic advisory.
  • Grant funding and pilot opportunity, providing on ground implementation to showcase the proof of concept of the solutions developed by the entrepreneurs.
  • International exposure and collaboration opportunities through the H&M Foundation and Social Alpha network.
  • Potential opportunity to access Social Alpha’s seed support – up to INR 1 Cr; and facilitated access to a large investor and donor network.
4. How often will Social Alpha interface with winners of the program?

There will be regular interface between the winning teams and the Social Alpha program implementation team. Each start-up will be allocated a portfolio manager to help with customized requests who will continually and regularly engage with the start-ups.

5. Is it mandatory to take the seed investment from Social Alpha if applying for the program? Is the potential support of up to INR 1 Cr guaranteed?

No, it is not mandatory to take the seed investment from Social Alpha. Interested start-ups can unlock the potential support of up to INR 1 Cr if they show genuine interest and upon receiving necessary approvals after thorough due diligence at Social Alpha’s end.

6. Is it mandatory to employ waste pickers or their family members for the pilot? What are the kind of roles I can employ them for?

Yes, it is mandatory to employ at least 2 waste pickers or their family members. However, their role need not be limited to waste management only. They can be employed in any part of your business operations. Some examples include housekeeping work in offices/factories, carrying out tasks involved in the production of goods, packaging and labelling orders to be shipped to clients, data entry, management of inventory, etc.

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Terms and Conditions
Terms and Conditions

Please read the following terms and conditions before submitting your entry:

ELIGIBILITY
  • Participating or proposed ventures should be independent entities, meaning that they should not be a subsidiary of an existing corporation or have legal ties to a government body.
  • Existing non-profits can participate; however, they should propose a venturing idea or a plan to transform their existing solutions into a more sustainable solution.
  • The applicant should be a registered company in India. The shareholding by Indian promoters in the company should be at least 51%.
SUBMISSIONS AND PARTICIPATION
  • Submissions which are incomplete will be deemed void and disqualified from the evaluations.
  • Submissions should be the original work of the participant/participating entity and should demonstrate positive social or environmental impact, have an innovative solution with potential to be sustainable and scalable in India (though not exclusively in the region).
  • Winners agree to the use of their names, photographs, disclosure of their country of residence; and are required to cooperate with any other reasonable requests by the organiser relating to any publicity-related activities.
  • Winners are required to submit a declaration of good standing and solvency at the final stage of evaluation. If there is any change in circumstance that invalidates their good standing and solvency, the team is to immediately inform the organisers.
  • All participants own the rights to their ideas. Participants must properly acknowledge any trademarks, patented or copyrighted materials of others that are incorporated into the submission materials. Participants are responsible for obtaining any necessary permission before utilizing such materials into their submissions.
  • Submitted ideas are protected in the spirit of non-disclosure, and all submitted materials will be treated as company confidential. The only people with access to the entry materials will be evaluators/judges, partners and select members of the organising committee. Materials will not be distributed to any other party unless requested by a participant. No other provisions are made to protect intellectual property.
  • Participants are advised not to disclose critical information which would affect a successful filing of patent(s). All presentations are open to the general public, and some presentations may be videotaped. Attendance by media personnel is expected in the final stages of the program. Any data or information discussed or divulged in public sessions by participants should be considered information that will likely enter the public realm, and entrants should not assume any right of confidentiality in any data or information discussed, divulged or presented in these sessions.
DECISIONS REGARDING THE WINNERS
  • The selection of the winners is at the sole discretion of the judges and the organisers from Social Alpha and partnering organisations. Best efforts will be made to make decisions in accordance with this document.
  • Throughout any and all phases of Techtonic, all decisions of the judges are final.
DISQUALIFICATION AND ORGANISER’S RIGHT TO AMEND COMPETITION RULES
  • The organisers of Techtonic reserve the right to disqualify any participant who is found to have violated the spirit of the program guidelines and terms and conditions stated herein. Disqualified participants shall forfeit any and all prizes awarded to them.
  • The organisers reserve the right to amend these rules at any point before the closing date of Techtonic in line with the overall goal of program.
  • The indicated dates for Techtonic may be revised at any point of time by the organisers. Any change in schedule will be suitably intimated on the webpage and on other relevant platforms.

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