Our Story

As a social enterprise, we have always focused on REDUCING waste in the urban context through a zero waste store for groceries and cleaners. The rapid increase in household waste due to shifting consumer lifestyles made it clear that this issue requires more than just a service, it demands an inclusive system intervention.

The ZeroWaste Community Tool aims to be just that, a ground zero intervention that connects the consumer with the system via the local workforce to create a resilient, scalable, inclusive, and a strong backbone for the Circular Economy.

Our journey

Zero-Waste Grocery Store Front

A pioneering venture for buying organic groceries without unnecessary packaging. This was made possible by having returnable containers, refundable deposits, encouraging consumers to bring their own packaging, welcoming donations of containers and upcycling packaging from scrap material.
Our innovative approach quickly gained traction among a dedicated community of environmentally conscious consumers, who eagerly embraced our ethos. Beyond mere transactions, our store front became a hub for engaging conversations and shared learning experiences. We take pride in inspiring many individuals at that time, fostering enduring loyalty among our patrons at ecoSansar.

December 2017
Online Marketplace - Deposit Refund System

As the trend towards online shopping gained momentum, we responded by launching our own marketplace, complete with a first of its kind, integrated deposit refund system for containers. We now had new learnings about logistical challenges, product and logistics based packaging requirements, managing irregular returns and tracking deposits. Every challenge and every interaction were now new learnings.

Despite challenges, our system persevered through the pandemic. However, the landscape quickly evolved with the emergence of fast commerce, offering 10 minute deliveries - a level of convenience beyond our capacity as a small business. Consequently, we made the difficult decision to discontinue our grocery arm, recognizing the impossibility of matching such rapid service.

March 2019
Community Collection Drives

One of the primary hurdles in implementing a Circular Economy is prompting behavioural shifts in consumers. Through our diverse donation drives, we’ve gained insights into individual consumer responses and motivations across different segments.
Contrary to common assumptions, modern consumers are enthusiastic about adopting sustainable options when presented effectively. Our voluntary collection drives consistently yielded positive results, showcasing consumer’s willingness to participate in sustainable practices.

June 2023
DWCC Collaborations

Understanding the operations, mindset, challenges and requirements of DWCCs (Dry Waste Collection Centers) is crucial for designing an inclusive and effective reuse chain. We’ve engaged in open dialogues with them and were pleasantly surprised by their readiness to offer unconditional support and cooperation for the advancement of the reuse chain. This speaks volumes about the significance of effective recycling of household waste for them. Food for thought indeed!

November 2023
Second-Hand Marketplace

In our efforts to optimize existing resources, we are creating a marketplace for second hand packaging and packaging materials. This exercise is intended to be a quick fix while gaining perspectives.

November 2023

We remain steadfast in our commitment to establishing a system for reusing packaging after consumption, as that has always been our primary core value.

We've developed specific models tailored to diverse business types, drawing from our experience of implementing DRS (Deposit Refund System) in the grocery marketplace. This expertise enables us to design a comprehensive value chain encompassing logistics, reuse/refill/repurpose strategies and operational requirements. We're currently seeking funded packaging reuse pilot opportunities from producers to implement the value chain for your unique needs.