Home / Environment / Assam's Invasive Weed Becomes Sustainable Stationery
Assam's Invasive Weed Becomes Sustainable Stationery
4 Mar
Summary
- Water hyacinth is transformed into eco-friendly paper and packaging.
- The initiative began in 2022 with handmade sheets and now uses machines.
- This process helps control weed growth and supports local livelihoods.
Assam's waterways, plagued by invasive water hyacinth, have found an innovative solution in Kumbhi Kagaz, a brand founded by Aniket Dhar and Rupankar Bhattacharjee. They transform the troublesome plant into paper and biodegradable packaging. The initiative started in 2022 with handmade sheets, scaling up to machine production as demand grew.
This venture not only addresses the ecological challenge of water hyacinth but also supports local livelihoods. One tonne of fresh water hyacinth yields approximately 100 kilograms of dried fiber, convertible into 80-90 kilograms of chemical-free paper. The project also aids communities by clearing choked lakes, which facilitates fishing and boosts tourism.
Manual clearance methods are employed at their Kaziranga facility, prioritizing the safety of wildlife. The initiative gained national attention after being mentioned on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Mann Ki Baat, inspiring similar models in other Indian cities. Kumbhi Kagaz aims to control, not eradicate, the water hyacinth, thereby revitalizing aquatic ecosystems.
