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Plastic bottles are cheap but create long-lasting pollution. While bamboo bottles are strong and reusable, they can be costly to scale. Sugarcane bagasse bottles are biodegradable and low-cost, but may lack durability. We model a hybrid solution can combine the best of both worlds.

Gap in Current Solutions

  • Bamboo bottles alone = durable, stylish, but relatively expensive.

  • Sugarcane bagasse bottles = biodegradable, affordable, but weaker. Currently, no widely available packaging option balances strength, sustainability, and scalability.

Raw materials needed i.e;

  • Sugarcane waste (bagasse): Can be sourced from the campus itself from the vendors selling sugarcane juice and can also be bought for cheap from vendors outside the campus as they do not have a use for the bagasse and they just dump them along the streets, which will create a better environment on the streets as well as letting the vendors make a quick buck out of materials they don't need. 
  • Bamboo: Due to it's rapid growth patterns, yield/harvesting cycles and it's ability to provide continuous yield after the first harvest because it regenerates from the root system, we can either set up a small area for cultivating bamboo or get it sourceed from a local farm.  

Proposed Solution We propose bamboo–sugarcane hybrid bottles, where:

  • Sugarcane bagasse pulp forms the outer shell (cheap, moldable, biodegradable).

  • Bamboo fibers are added for reinforcement (durability, crack resistance).

  • Food-grade biodegradable lining ensures leak-proof performance.

Beneficiaries

  • Beverage vendors (college canteens, juice stalls, cafés) who get affordable eco-bottles.

  • Students & consumers who want green alternatives.

  • Environment, with reduced plastic waste and use of agricultural by-products.

  • Local artisans/farmers, through bamboo and sugarcane by-product utilization.

Motivation Both bamboo and sugarcane are abundant in India, often underutilized or discarded. By combining them, we can create a new class of affordable, eco-friendly packaging material.

Technical Details & Pilot Plan

  1. Prototype: Mix bagasse pulp with bamboo fibers → mold into 250–300 ml bottles.

  2. Campus Pilot: Supply a batch of 20–30 bottles to juice stalls and canteens.

  3. Feedback: Collect responses on strength, usability, and pricing.

  4. Iteration: Adjust fiber ratios for optimal performance.

Votes: 12
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Comments

  • This is a thoughtful way to tackle plastic waste, and using both bamboo and bagasse is creative. One concern is whether production, sourcing, and quality control—especially ensuring bottles are strong enough and affordable at scale—could end up being more expensive or complicated than expected. Will people actually prefer these if durability or leakage is ever an issue? Clarifying pricing and durability compared to regular options could make the idea more convincing.
  • The bamboo–sugarcane hybrid bottle combines the durability of bamboo fibers with the affordability and biodegradability of sugarcane bagasse, creating a scalable, eco-friendly packaging solution that reduces plastic waste and supports local sustainability.
  • I think this idea is a game changer in the packaging industry, tackling the issue of sustainability ,recycling waste and providing a combined solution for both. It will do wonders for the environment while providing a durable product that balances strength, sustainability, and scalability. This concept could be used to package food products as well
  • The cost of production versus plastic bottles needs to be calculated to check if vendors will actually adopt it.
  • The idea has strong scalability potential beyond the campus if the pilot works.
  • Great idea! Combining sugarcane and bamboo for eco-friendly bottles is smart and sustainable. It’s wonderful to see solutions that support local resources and reduce plastic waste.
  • A life-cycle analysis (LCA) comparison between plastic, bamboo, bagasse, and hybrid bottles would strengthen the argument. Overall, it is a decent idea
  • This project is very relevant to India since both raw materials are abundantly available and cheap.
  • Using bagasse from campus vendors creates a nice circular economy model — waste to product within the same ecosystem.
  • Nice work Pardhu!!, this is a super interesting idea! I'd love to see how it handles a hot cup of chai, since that's a common drink on campus.Looking forward to seeing your progress 🎉🎉🎉
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