Indian teens win Earth Prize for microplastic removal solution

Sixteen-year-olds Vivaan Chhawchharia, Ariana Agarwal and Avyana Mehta have been named the Asia winners of The Earth Prize 2026 for creating ‘Plas-Stick’, a biodegradable solution which removes microplastics from water using powdered tamarind seeds.

Inspired by visits to rural communities where families stored drinking water in shared containers without advanced filtration systems, the trio developed a low-cost method aimed at addressing growing concerns around invisible plastic pollution in drinking water.

The Indian teens created ‘Plas-Stick’ to fight microplastics

Plas-Stick is a biodegradable powder made primarily from tamarind seed waste that the team says can help clump microplastics in water. According to the students, when added to contaminated water, the powder attracts microplastic particles and causes them to form larger clumps that can then be removed using a handheld magnet.

The idea emerged after the students visited rural communities and observed how people stored and shared drinking water in large containers. During one such visit, seeing a child drink from one of the containers reportedly highlighted the issue of daily exposure to microplastics in areas where advanced filtration systems are unavailable.

The team designed the invention as a low-cost and accessible alternative to complex purification systems. Because it uses biodegradable and locally available materials and requires no electricity or advanced infrastructure, the solution could potentially work in rural and low-resource communities.

The students have also collaborated with professionals from Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati and say the project has already reached more than 8,000 students and teachers through awareness and demonstration programmes.

Why microplastics are causing global concern

Microplastics are extremely small plastic fragments, generally less than five millimetres in size, created by the breakdown of larger plastics, synthetic fabrics, industrial waste and packaging materials. Recent scientific studies have identified microplastics in drinking water, seafood, human blood, lungs, placentas and even brain tissue. Researchers are still studying the long-term health effects, but many scientists increasingly view microplastic contamination as a major emerging pollution challenge. Globally, more than 2.2 billion people still lack safely managed drinking water infrastructure, increasing reliance on stored water that may contain microplastic contamination.

Winning The Earth Prize

The Earth Prize is described by organisers as the world’s largest environmental competition and ‘ideas incubator’ for teenagers aged 13 to 19. Founded by The Earth Foundation in Geneva, Switzerland, during the 2019 School Strike for Climate movement, the programme supports youth-led sustainability projects through mentorship, educational resources and funding opportunities.

Now in its fifth year, The Earth Prize says it has reached more than 21,000 students across 169 countries and territories. Previous winners have reportedly gone on to secure patents, corporate partnerships and international media coverage. As Asia winners, the three Indian students received $12,500 in funding to continue developing their project, along with mentorship opportunities and international exposure. Seven regional winners are being announced globally across different regions including Asia, Africa, Europe, the Middle East and North America.

Some viral social media posts incorrectly claimed that each student individually received $125,000. Official announcements from The Earth Prize confirm that the team collectively received a $12,500 regional award grant. Public voting for the global winner is expected to open through The Earth Prize website, with the final global winner scheduled to be announced on May 29.

One of the most innovative aspects of the project is the use of tamarind seed waste. Tamarind seeds naturally contain sticky polysaccharides and binding compounds that may help attract and aggregate particles in water. By using agricultural waste instead of synthetic chemicals, the students created a biodegradable and low-cost solution while also demonstrating how locally available materials can contribute to environmental innovation. The team says it now plans to scale the project through decentralised production hubs and expand access to rural communities across India.

Can the invention be used commercially?

Plas-Stick is still in the development stage and has not yet undergone large-scale independent scientific validation. The invention would require further testing before large-scale deployment. Experts would likely need to evaluate filtration effectiveness, long-term safety, scalability, water quality standards and regulatory approval before it could become commercially available. Even so, the project has already gained attention as an example of how young innovators are contributing practical ideas to major environmental challenges.