Rafter’s bold leap into sustainability, from cold calls to green gifting

June 11, 2025 Innovation Valli Sarvani

In today’s fast-changing world, innovation must walk hand-in-hand with sustainability.

Basavaraj Basavaraj Kambar, who once went door-to-door making sales pitches, now heads Rafter, one of India’s emerging eco-gifting startups.

Starting with no capital and just ₹55,000 in savings, he launched Kambar Products and Services.

Over 18 years, he grew it into a multi-crore enterprise. However, his drive to create a meaningful, lasting impact remained strong, eventually leading him to pivot toward sustainability with the launch of Rafter.

After the COVID-19 pandemic, he had a moment of clarity. The world wanted sustainability.

He reflected on how corporate gifting could be improved to align with sustainable values.

In 2022, Rafter was born. It offers eco-friendly welcome kits and gifts. Instead of plastic, it uses bamboo, rice husk, recycled paper, and plantable materials.

Each product is designed to last or return to nature. The standout is the rice husk mug sourced from Mysuru. It’s durable for 5,000 washes and lasts three years. Clients love it.

Rafter also offers notebooks from plantable paper and bamboo amplifiers, all sourced from small, sustainable partners.

Basavaraj handles product innovation himself. He learns, experiments, and refines. Rafter doesn’t mass-produce. Every piece reflects thought and purpose.

Convincing companies wasn’t easy. Sustainable products often cost more and lack instant appeal.

So, Rafter focused on smart packaging and storytelling. Boxes come with magnetic closures and are designed for reuse. Every hamper is custom-branded and premium in feel.

The result was overwhelming, with more than 5,000 eco-kits sold. Clients include Infosys, Lowe’s, Applied Materials, and more. Rafter has crossed ₹1 crore in revenue.

The mission goes beyond numbers. Basavaraj wants Rafter to change habits and build a lifestyle movement.

Future plans include hemp fabric, recycled PET T-shirts, and even tomato-based bio-leather.

For Basavaraj, Rafter is more than business. Its purpose in action. From rejection to revolution, he proves that green can be premium and powerful.

Image from Pxhere (Free for commercial use / CC0 Public Domain)

Image Published on April 05, 2017