Deadline: October 10, 2025
The National Hackathon 2025 on Eco-Alternatives to Single Use Plastics is a government initiative aimed at identifying and promoting eco-friendly, economically viable, and scalable alternatives to petroleum-based single-use plastic items.
The Hackathon focuses on developing eco-alternatives to banned thin plastic carry bags (less than 120 microns in thickness) and thin plastic packaging (less than 50 microns in thickness). The objectives are to provide solutions that demonstrate adequate strength, biodegradability, scalability of production, economic viability, cost-effectiveness, and novelty, while conforming to relevant standards and not compromising product quality.
On World Environment Day 2025, the Government of India launched the National Plastic Pollution Reduction Campaign with several initiatives, including this National Hackathon. The event aims to bring visibility to innovative solutions developed by start-ups, research institutions, industries, and civil society for replacing banned single-use plastic (SUP) products.
Participants eligible to submit solutions include start-ups registered under government schemes, science, educational research institutions, and industrial entities. They may address one or both problem statements focused on plastic carry bags and packaging. The banned thin plastic carry bags contribute significantly to plastic waste due to their lightweight nature, high littering potential, and low collection potential, despite steps taken to regulate their manufacturing thickness under the Plastic Waste Management Rules. Alternatives must be commercially scalable and economically viable.
Similarly, thin plastic packaging also poses environmental challenges, especially in sectors like food packaging and hospitality. Despite regulatory measures and extended producer responsibility guidelines, thin plastic packaging persists as a portion of plastic waste. The hackathon seeks technically and economically feasible eco-friendly packaging alternatives that do not compromise the quality of packaged products.
Participants are expected to submit solutions showcasing innovation, supported by test reports for strength, biodegradability, cost, scalability, and market feasibility. The hackathon promotes the adoption of these alternatives at scale to help reduce plastic pollution in India.
Exciting cash prizes will be awarded to the best solutions, with the first prize being ₹1,00,000, the second prize ₹75,000, and the third prize ₹50,000.
For more information, visit CPCB.
