What began as a school project inspired by water challenges in rural India has earned three Indian teenagers international recognition.
Just last week, 16-year-olds Vivaan Chhawchharia, Ariana Agarwal and Avyana Mehta were crowned Global Winners of The Earth Prize, the world’s largest environmental competition for teenagers. Their solution, Plas-Stick, uses discarded tamarind seeds to remove microplastics from drinking water, transforming an everyday waste product into a tool for cleaner water.
The team was selected through a public vote involving around 23,000 people, beating six other Regional Winners from across the globe. For the students, becoming the first-ever Global Winners from India made the achievement even more meaningful.
During the Earth Prize Awards Ceremony on Friday 29 May, the students found out who was the Global Winner. Photo courtesy of The Earth Prize.
“Representing India makes this another level of special, because our product is centered around this Indian staple that is called ‘imli’ or tamarind seeds. And being able to do this for our country, it means everything,” said Ariana Agarwal.
“It makes us extremely proud. Representing India on a global environmental stage means a lot, especially because our solution is rooted in something local, waste tamarind seeds and the needs of local communities,” added Vivaan Chhawchharia.
The idea for Plas-Stick began after the team visited a rural community where drinking water was commonly stored in shared plastic containers without advanced filtration systems. Seeing a child drink from one of these containers inspired them to look more closely at the growing problem of microplastic pollution.
Microplastics are tiny fragments of broken down plastic, sometimes too small to see with the human eye. Scientists have detected them almost everywhere on Earth, including the human body, raising concerns about their impact on both environmental and human health.
Determined to find a simple and accessible solution, the students turned to something abundant in India: discarded tamarind seeds. Through a number of experiments, the team tested a combination of ingredients until they found the perfect mix. When added to water, the powder attracts and binds microplastic particles into visible clumps that can then be removed using a handheld magnet. Because the process requires no electricity or complex machinery, it has the potential to be used in communities where access to water treatment infrastructure is limited.
3-phase demonstration – Adding the powder to coloured water, mixing, and attracting clumped microplastics using a handheld magnet. Photo courtesy of The Earth Prize.
The project has already made an impact beyond the laboratory. Through workshops and demonstrations, the team has educated more than 8,000 students and teachers about microplastic pollution and the importance of protecting water resources.
Now, following their Global Winner recognition, the students plan to expand the project through decentralised production hubs and bring the technology to more rural communities across India and beyond.
Their success is also a reminder that some of the most promising environmental solutions begin with challenges people witness in their own communities. Avyana Mehta reflected on the connection between the project and the local rural community that inspired it: “We’re solving a problem that is happening in our very communities. We come from Rajasthan, where water issues are deeply personal, and having a project that is globally recognised is incredibly powerful for us.”
Plas-Stick’s story shows us that meaningful change does not always require infinite resources, or very advanced technology. Sometimes it starts with a local problem, a ‘worthless’ waste material, and a group of determined students willing to make a difference.
Have you been inspired by this year’s Earth Prize winners? Applications for The Earth Prize 2027 are now open to young people aged 13-19. Whether your budding environmental idea tackles air pollution, drought, clean water, biodiversity, food waste, energy, or climate change, The Earth Prize provides mentorship, funding, and a global platform to turn your ideas into real-world impact. Register here.
