India’s aluminium giant Hindalco is partnering with MIT-Harvard start-up accelerator program Manush Labs on a project to boost clean-tech startups around the world.
Hindalco says the Cleantech Startup Challenge 2022 program would run for six months and intends to support prototyping, piloting, and scaling solutions by leveraging a network of technology and knowledge experts.
The Challenge will be addressing two issues, namely, to reduce 5 thousand tons per annum of plastic usage, and to utilize up to 700 thousand tons per annum of waste. If chosen by the program, the startup project will receive deep-technical and scaling support from Manush Labs as well as a chance to run a funded pilot program on a grant from Hindalco.
Satish Pai, Managing Director, Hindalco Ind. Ltd., Director, Board of Aditya Birla Management Corporation Pvt. Ltd., said in a press release that the program will help it meet its own sustainability goals as well.
“Our strategy is to create value sustainably and operate responsibly by aligning our multi-dimensional approach with the elements of people, planet, and prosperity. Our partnership with Manush Labs is a collaborative solution to reduce the environmental load and move closer to our ‘Net Zero carbon’ goal of 2050.”
Piyush Verma, Founder & CEO, Manush Labs, said that the partnership will go a long way to achieving a circular economy.
“Our partnership with Hindalco Ind. Ltd. fulfills our larger goal to bring the much-needed momentum to the circular economy space globally. We are confident that this collaboration will start an industry-wide conversation to reimagine the usage of plastic and utilization of industrial waste such as FGD process waste. Through our initiatives, we intend to contribute to a startup’s growth by providing them with large-scale revenue and scaling opportunities.”
Vaishali Surawar, Chief Sustainability Officer, Hindalco, Aditya Birla Group, noted the importance of the program.
“We are confidently progressing on our journey towards zero waste to landfill with transformational changes through our ‘Value from Waste’ initiative. This program with Manush Labs is another such initiative as a part of our commitment to putting significant emphasis on the environmental, social, and governance aspects of our business.”
Interested parties are encouraged to apply via Manush Labs’ website.
