Brothers Turn 300 Tons of Plastic Into Premium Furniture

Rahul Vashukhi and Vikash Kumar walked away from their corporate careers in 2021 with no business plan, just a desire to create real change. What they found in the streets of Ghaziabad, India, would transform both their lives and 300 tons of plastic waste.

The brothers noticed mountains of plastic packaging piling up in their neighborhood during COVID lockdowns. Instead of looking away, they started experimenting in their garage to see if they could turn trash into something useful.

After months of trial and error, they developed Eco-Panel, a solid material made entirely from recycled plastic. The process involves collecting plastic waste, sorting it by type, shredding it clean, then compressing it through carefully controlled heating and cooling.

The result looks and feels like premium marble or quartz. Rahul says that's exactly the point.

"People still don't perceive recycled materials as premium products," he explains. "We want to change that." The brothers designed their own machinery to manufacture Eco-Panel and deliberately chose not to patent their process yet to keep it away from competitors.

Minus Degre now employs 15 people in a 16,000 square foot factory. Their recycled material gets molded into everything from keychains selling for $2 to curved benches priced at $290.

Major brands including Adidas and Steve Madden now use their products. The company recently installed over 90 seating modules at Noida International Airport, giving millions of travelers their first glimpse of what recycled plastic can become.

The startup has served more than 200 businesses and 3,000 individual customers since launching. Many interior designers now specify Eco-Panel as an eco-friendly alternative to stone and virgin plastic.

The Ripple Effect

Every ton of plastic Minus Degre diverts from landfills becomes furniture that challenges assumptions about recycled materials. When government buildings in Bihar installed Eco-Panel park benches, they sent a message that sustainability can look sophisticated.

The brothers recorded $15,000 in revenue last year and aim to double that in 2027 as their new factory reaches full capacity. They're focusing on premium clients and building relationships with architects on high-budget projects.

Their approach stays deliberately low-tech and grounded. "We operate from the ground level," Rahul says, distinguishing their model from app-based or heavily automated competitors.

The company isn't profitable yet, but the founders see a clear path forward as demand grows for indigenous eco-friendly materials in India. With mountains of plastic waste still awaiting transformation, two brothers who took a chance during lockdown are proving that trash can become treasure when you're willing to experiment.