In 2008, Pixar’s animated sci-fi film Wall-E hit movie theatres across the world. It was an entertaining watch with an important message for mankind—stop littering or else, one day we might end up with mountains of trash and no humans in sight.
13 years later, although the activism on tackling the global issue of litter and waste management continues, nothing much has changed. We litter as carelessly as we continue buying plastic products. We dump garbage wherever we go—on land and in the sea—without any concern for the devastating consequences of our actions. To put things into perspective, each year, the US produces 1609 pounds (over 700kg) of waste per person, responsible for 40 percent of the world’s waste. European countries are not far behind either, with each individual generating waste every year amounting to 487kg as of 2017 according to Eurostat. Another report Plastic Waste Makers Index by Australia-based Minderoo Foundation revealed, “India generates 5.58 million tonnes of single-use plastic annually, and China produces six times more, at 25.36 million tonnes.”
That’s a lot of garbage. At this rate, Wall-E can soon become a reality, if not for us, surely for our future generations. Thankfully, we have capeless heroes amidst ourselves who are fighting to save the planet. Through their voices, initiatives, workshops and the government’s support, these people are enhancing public awareness around waste management and solving the garbage crisis of the world.
Shikha Shah is one such waste warrior who left her lucrative job to turn scrap into valuable lifestyle products. Her venture, Scrapshala, begins its work after our products end up in the dustbin. Like a potter, a blacksmith or a farmer who creates something valuable from nothing, Scrapshala upscales trash into reusable products.
In an exclusive conversation with Soulveda, Shah shares her inspiring story that began in Varanasi, a city on the banks of the Ganges, when she was still a young girl.
Where did the idea of turning scrap into lifestyle products come from?
I was born and brought up in Varanasi, and since my childhood days, my family has been waste-conscious. I remember when I was a kid, I used to play with re-purposed toys made by my mother. Later, when I was in the IIT Madras Incubation Cell, I met several entrepreneurs who were working on upcycling. It was that time when I knew what I wanted to do in life. When I came back to Varanasi, I founded Scrapshala with my mother in 2016. We aimed to breathe new life into scrap and reshape them into something valuable. Five years later, our upcycled products have reached several households, and it’s just the beginning.
Before Scrapshala, you had a good career ahead and a comfortable life. Can you tell us what motivated you to quit your job and start your own venture?
My first job was at Reliance Foundation that gave me an opportunity to work in rural areas. It was a big transition for me, from living a comfortable life to an uncomfortable one. But it taught me that when you live outside of your comfort zone, you become used to taking risks. And, when you are associated with institutions like IIT Madras, you are further exposed to the importance of taking risks. This experience made me ready for what was to come next.
From 2016 to 2021, each day was challenging. There were days when we used to receive many orders, other times, nothing. But I had faith in what we were doing. In most Indian households, you can find storerooms full of junk materials. We keep them thinking one day, they might come in handy. That’s where Scrapshala comes in. Using the help of local artisans—and Varanasi has plenty of such people—we kept moving forward to turn our dream into reality.
In India, the concepts of upcycling and waste management are still in their nascent stages. How did you conquer your fears?
I come from a Marwari family and traditionally, in our community, women are homemakers and men are breadwinners. So it was a social taboo for me when I came back to Varanasi to start my own venture. It was a big shift for my family too. I, on the other hand, didn’t have all the answers on day one—how will I make this work, who will buy the products, and so on. There was no mentor or a clear business strategy in place. This lack of clarity can confuse you and the people around you. Until we started getting orders and media attention, everything happened on its own. Government campaigns like the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan or Clean India Mission created awareness around waste management, which also helped us in our journey.
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