Inside BTWOF 2025: Founders on Eco-conscious Practices and Initiatives

Sustainability today isn’t a luxury or a niche, it’s a necessity that defines the future of responsible business. As part of BTWOF, Local Samosa brings together some of India’s most forward-thinking founders who are leading the way in sustainability.

These changemakers are reshaping industries with eco-conscious products, zero-waste models, ethical sourcing, and clean manufacturing — proving that profitability and purpose can go hand in hand. (Psst.. nominate your brand for the next wave of innovators in Brands To Watch Out For in 2026)

Bare Necessities – Sahar Mansoor

“For us at Bare Necessities, mindfulness and sustainability are fundamental cornerstones of everything we do,” says founder Sahar Mansoor. The brand’s philosophy is rooted in conscious consumption and ethical production, ensuring that every function and process is aligned with environmental mindfulness.

All Bare Necessities personal care products are entirely plastic-free and handcrafted by a women-run manufacturing team. Mansoor emphasises, “Our products render little to no carbon emissions during production, and we ensure that we use our resources wisely without incurring any wastage.”

The brand also encourages its community to refill their essentials. “We offer refill stations and services at our store to help customers reuse their containers,” she adds. The team at Bare Necessities follows stringent waste segregation processes in the office and manufacturing units, truly embodying a closed-loop, zero-waste lifestyle.

Through its operations, Bare Necessities, part of BTWOF in 2025, continues to showcase how mindful living and sustainability can be seamlessly integrated into everyday products.

Pilgrim – Anurag Kedia and Gagandeep Makker

Pilgrim, co-founded by Anurag Kedia and Gagandeep Makker, stands tall as a global conscious beauty brand rooted in sustainability. The founders share that “Pilgrim has been 100% cruelty-free and vegan since inception,” with official certifications from PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) — the world’s largest animal rights organization.

“We’re proud to be Plastic-Positive,” say the founders. “This means we recycle more plastic than we use for packaging purposes. It’s part of our larger commitment to the planet and to minimizing the impact of our actions on future generations.”

Since its inception, Pilgrim has prioritized recycled plastic or recyclable packaging materials. Their Plastic-Positive initiative takes that a step further by actively recycling beyond their own consumption. The co-founders add, “To further our commitment to sustainable development, we have always aligned our goals with environmental protection.”

Pilgrim’s credentials include:

• PETA Certified Vegan and Cruelty-Free
• Non-Toxic
• FDA Approved
• 100% Safe
• Dermatologically Tested

“Our goal has always been to create safe, effective, and ethical beauty,” say the co-founders. As part of BTWOF in 2025, Pilgrim exemplifies how conscious beauty can flourish at scale without compromising on efficacy or elegance.

Juicy Chemistry – Megha and Pritesh Asher

For Juicy Chemistry, sustainability is a journey of constant evolution. Co-founders Megha and Pritesh Asher shares, “We’ve consciously evolved our packaging over the past decade to make it more sustainable, eco-friendlier, and aligned with our core philosophy.”

The brand’s packaging today primarily uses paper, glass bottles, and tubs. “Our deodorants are composed of paper tubes that are completely biodegradable,” they explain. “Meanwhile, our liquid shampoos and body washes are housed in PET G bottles that adhere to ECOCERT standards and are highly recyclable.”

Juicy Chemistry also runs a take-back program for empties. “Customers can return used bottles at our stores, allowing us to help them recycle more,” add the brand leaders.

A few years ago, the brand became Plastic Neutral through a partnership with The Disposal Co. “We recycle an equivalent amount of plastic we consume annually — and our aim is always to recycle even more,” the founders say.

The brand has extended these principles to its Color Chemistry makeup line, where bamboo, wood, glass, aluminum, and single-layer recyclable plastics are used — the latter only when absolutely necessary.

Featured in BTWOF in 2025, Juicy Chemistry represents a modern Indian beauty brand that balances luxury, sustainability, and responsibility.

Chutnefy – Prasanna Natarajan and Shreyas Raghav

For Chutnefy, sustainability begins long before the product reaches the consumer — it starts at the supply chain. “We’re committed to reducing food wastage,” says the co-founders. “Our approach involves pre-purchasing larger quantities of fresh produce from our suppliers. This helps them clear stock ahead of time, reducing storage requirements and minimizing waste.”

Chutnefy’s advanced cooking and storage technology further ensures that ingredients remain fresh for longer, preserving quality while reducing spoilage.

Sustainability at Chutnefy also extends to energy use. “As part of our long-term sustainability goals, we’re transitioning our production facility to solar power,” they share. “This move will significantly lower our energy consumption and help us reduce our environmental footprint.”

The co-founders Prasanna Natarajan and Shreyas Raghav are also focused on packaging innovation. “While we currently use food-grade packaging for freshness and safety, we’re actively exploring more sustainable alternatives,” they say. “Our goal is to reduce our reliance on plastics and develop packaging that’s kinder to the planet.”

With its inclusion in BTWOF in 2025, Chutnefy is redefining what sustainability means in the Indian ready-to-eat and food-tech industry.

Farmley – Akash Sharma and Abhishek Agarwal

At Farmley, sustainability, transparency, and farmer welfare are more than ideals — they’re central to how the business operates. “We’re deeply committed to responsible sourcing and sustainable packaging,” say the co-founders. “These principles guide every decision we make.”

One of Farmley’s most impactful initiatives has been its sustainable packaging shift. “We’ve moved to composite jars for our roasted and flavored makhana,” they explain. “Although this switch increased costs by about 30%, the environmental benefits make it worthwhile. Reducing plastic waste is a cause we stand firmly behind.”

Farmley also ensures ethical sourcing and farmer welfare. The co-founders Akash Sharma and Abhishek Agarwal say, “We work directly with over 5,000 farmers globally, eliminating middlemen to ensure they receive fair compensation. We also promote sustainable farming practices that benefit both the soil and the growers.”

Their farmgate processing centers, located close to the source, are designed to reduce carbon footprints and waste. “These centers allow us to process fresh produce more efficiently while supporting the local communities where they are based,” they add.

By offering incentives for high-quality produce, Farmley has seen a 35% increase in income levels for farmers in Bihar. “Empowering farmers to grow sustainably benefits everyone,” they conclude.

Recognised in BTWOF in 2025, Farmley showcases how sustainability can uplift communities while keeping business ethics intact.

Plush – Prince Kapoor and Ketan Munoth

“At Plush, we’re committed to planet-friendly practices that reflect in every product we make,” say the co-founders Prince Kapoor and Ketan Munoth. The brand’s dedication is evident through its FSC and PETA certifications, reinforcing its ethical approach to hygiene and comfort.

They explain, “We’ve minimized plastic usage wherever possible. Almost all our products come packaged in recycled paper boxes.” Plush’s innovation also shines through its product design — eco razors crafted from recycled plastic and premium metals, and the wheat-straw handle variant, which reduces plastic use by 40%.

“Our pads minimize plastic use further by incorporating 100% ethically and sustainably sourced U.S. cotton,” they add. “We also offer biodegradable disposal bags and menstrual cups to extend our environmental responsibility.”

By blending innovation, comfort, and sustainability, Plush, part of Brands To Watch Out For in 2025, continues to prove that conscious choices can coexist beautifully with convenience.

KAZO – Deepak Aggarwal

Fashion brand KAZO is redefining style with substance. Founder Deepak Aggarwal says, “We’re marching toward a new beginning with a conscious mindset.”

The label’s KAZO Konscious SS’23 campaign emphasized sustainable and ethical fashion, creating products that are ethically manufactured using eco-friendly, recycled, and low-impact materials. “Our Spring-Summer ’24 collection introduced BCI (Better Cotton Initiative) cotton, grown through environmentally friendly practices that reduce the impact of cotton cultivation,” shares Aggarwal.

KAZO’s commitment to sustainability is reflected in its choice of materials — linen, viscose, cotton gauze, blended linen, and textured dobbies. “We aim to inspire conscientious clothing,” says Aggarwal. “Our designs now embrace natural fabrics and conscious craftsmanship, blending fashion with environmental mindfulness.”

As part of BTWOF in 2025, KAZO exemplifies how Indian fashion brands can evolve responsibly without compromising creativity or quality.

BTWOF in 2026: A Conscious Tomorrow

From ethical sourcing and zero-waste beauty to solar-powered kitchens and sustainable fashion, the founders featured in BTWOF 2025 are redefining what modern Indian entrepreneurship looks like. Each initiative is proof that progress doesn’t have to come at the planet’s expense.

As India continues its journey toward conscious consumerism, Local Samosa’s Brands To Watch Out For series remains dedicated to spotlighting businesses that are not just thriving — but transforming the world for the better.