Pahal, a classroom idea turned into a sustainability movement | Fusion - WeRIndia

What began as a routine exercise at an entrepreneurship camp has grown into a powerful statement on environmental responsibility.

Four school students from Ghaziabad transformed a simple classroom discussion into Pahal, a student-led sustainability movement that challenges plastic use through practical, everyday alternatives.

The idea emerged when students were asked to identify real-world problems and think like founders. Amid discarded ideas and debates, one issue stood out: plastic’s overwhelming presence in daily life.

Bags, cutlery and packaging were everywhere, yet rarely questioned. That observation stayed with them long after the camp ended.

In 2023, Akshita Joshi, Simran Arora, Maanya Tyagi and Arshya Singh decided to act. Instead of immediately building a business, they focused on creating change within their own school.

With support from their principal, they began pushing to replace plastic items in the school canteen.

After multiple proposals, plastic spoons and forks were replaced with wooden ones, marking Pahal’s first tangible success.

Encouraged by this win, the group expanded their efforts beyond campus. They introduced cotton tote bags as a substitute for plastic carry bags.

The journey was far from smooth. Manufacturers were reluctant to work with teenage founders, especially for small orders. Yet persistence and confidence helped them move forward.

Their first major test came during a parent-teacher meeting, where they set up a small stall. Expecting limited sales, they stocked 100 bags.

By the end of the day, every bag had sold out. The response confirmed that people were willing to support both the product and the purpose behind it.

Priced at ₹299, the tote bags generated over ₹31,000 in profit. The founders chose not to treat this as personal gain.

Instead, they reinvested the earnings into expanding Pahal and developing future eco-friendly products. Their mission remains focused on reducing single-use plastic through simple lifestyle changes.

Looking ahead, the team plans to launch bamboo toothbrushes and new tote bag designs. They also hope to conduct sustainability workshops in schools and colleges.

Pahal may not claim to have solved plastic pollution, but it has shown that meaningful change can begin early, with awareness, persistence and the courage to take the first step.

Image Credit: Tunesh247, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Image Reference: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Poorly_manage_plastic_waste_in_Lagos,_Nigeria.jpg