TECHSPECTATIONS 2025

From plastic waste to functional furniture: Carbon & Whale's sustainable business approach

Imagine transforming heaps of plastic waste into sleek, durable furniture that breathes new life into our living spaces. It might sound like an ambitious dream, but 29-year-old Alvin George has turned it into reality. With his friend Sidharth A K, a passionate advocate for ecological conservation, Alvin co-founded the company Carbon & Whale.

Alvin’s journey took a turn when he decided to leave behind a stable career in the education and digital sectors. Driven by a vision to combat carbon emissions, he embarked on a mission to marry business with ecological conservation. Inspired by the principles of a circular economy, he sought to create value from what many consider waste.

It all started with a chance encounter. Alvin and Sidharth crossed paths at a function a few years ago, and their shared concern about the growing mountain of plastic waste sparked an idea. Despite their diverse backgrounds, Alvin is an engineer while Sidharth is a business graduate, and they found a common purpose in addressing a global crisis.

Realising the inadequacies of traditional recycling methods, the duo sought out expertise to develop a better solution. They joined hands with Professor Sooraj Varma from the Central Institute of Plastic Engineering to design an innovative recycling strategy. Their focus was to tackle single-use plastic waste, which often clogs the soil or pollutes the air when burned.

Alvin explains that their vision was to create a clean-tech startup that transforms discarded plastics into something meaningful. Their breakthrough involves turning single-use plastics into durable and adjustable furniture capable of lasting 15-20 years.

Anti-plastic crusader
Since its inception, Carbon & Whale has collected tonnes of plastic waste, converting it into functional furniture like stools and benches. This initiative provides an alternative use for plastic that would otherwise pollute the soil or seas. Their eco-conscious approach has garnered attention from environmentally aware consumers, boosting the company’s sales. The company is also advancing its mission by collaborating with various corporations. Through these partnerships, they are manufacturing benches for parks and other public spaces

Carbon & Whale: Scaling new heights
From a modest revenue of Rs 69,447 in the 2022-23 financial year to an ambitious projection of Rs.5 crores by 2024-25, Carbon & Whale is on an impressive growth trajectory. Alvin’s company is forging ahead, combining social responsibility with business success by creating ecologically conscious products.

The company’s next biggest target is nothing short of revolutionary: converting one billion kilograms of plastic waste into functional furniture. To achieve this monumental goal, Carbon & Whale plans to collaborate with local communities and volunteers.

For Alvin, the mission goes beyond business. “My aim is to create awareness about the importance of proper plastic waste disposal for the future of humanity and do whatever things I could in this direction,” he explains.

Before diving into entrepreneurship, Alvin honed his leadership and business skills through stints at major edu-tech companies. He served as Area Business Head at Think and Learn Private Limited (Byju’s), where he led a team of 60 and played a pivotal role in establishing the first Byju’s Tuition Centre in Ernakulam. Under his leadership, the centre enrolled over 300 students within its first ten months.

Before Byju's, Alvin worked as Director of Business Development at Hippocampus Learning Centres and also held a position at Extramarks Education Private Limited.

Alwin’s academic credentials are equally impressive. He holds certifications in Leadership Skills from IIM Ahmedabad and Marketing Management from IIM Bengaluru.

He has also earned a Facebook Ads and Marketing Mastery certification from Course Envy. At the Manorama Online Techspectation, this young entrepreneur will be sharing his inspiring journey and vision for a sustainable future with the audience.

Techspectation digital summit
The Techspectation Digital Summit, organised by Manorama Online, is set to spark a wave of innovation and ideas by delving into the latest opportunities in the digital world. The event, regarded as Kerala's largest digital summit, will take place in Kochi on February 7.

Now in its sixth edition, the summit this time will focus on the theme Transforming Future: AI for Everyday Life. Jain University Kochi and Google India are the sponsors. For registration, reservations, and additional details, visit the official website.

The event, this time, will feature discussions on the latest opportunities in the rapidly evolving digital world, significant advancements in Artificial Intelligence, the potential of AI in the news industry, the fascinating realm of data analytics, and the startup revolution in India and Kerala, which is paving the way for major brands. Special debates will focus on Kerala’s technological potential and the state’s progress in the digital segment.

The aim of Techspectations is to create a platform for discussions by embracing the new digital era and paving the way for future advancements. The digital summit, launched in 2016, has been held under various themes in the years 2018, 2020, 2021, and 2023.

Chief Executive Officers (CEOs), Chief Technical Officers (CTOs), and Chief Experience Officers (CXOs) of major companies, along with Vice Presidents, Senior Managers, Directors, Board Members, Managers, IT Engineers, Developers, Entrepreneurs, Business Investors, Digital Marketing Professionals, Professors, Researchers, Students, Government Officials, Business Consultants, and Business Executives, will all be part of Techspectations this time.

The fifth edition of Manorama Online Techspectations, held in Kochi in 2023, concluded on a high note, setting the stage for progress by embracing opportunities and collaboration. The event revolved around the theme "25 Years of Manorama Online: Embracing the new digital order, evolution, and surge."