Waste Is Not Waste, It's A Resource To Be Maximised: Prashant Singh, Co-founder & CEO, Blue Planet

Founded in 2017, Singapore-based Blue Planet has set out to lead the way on sustainable practices and circular economy initiatives. The company is committed to pioneering solutions that contribute to decarbonization goals and a circular approach to resource management. They transform discarded materials into valuable resources, such as renewable energy, recycled materials, and fertilisers, through innovative technologies and collaborative efforts. The company's vision is of a future where resources are used efficiently, pollution is very minimum, and communities thrive in harmony with nature. In an interview with ResponsibleUs, Prashant Singh, Co-Founder & CEO of Blue Planet Environmental Solutions, spoke about different dimensions of sustainability in waste management.

Read interview Excerpts:

What made you start Blue Planet? It’s been seven years, and the reason is that we have always been serial entrepreneurs. We have done a few ventures, and I was based in the US for 20 years, pursuing various ventures and professional journeys. But this was the time when we wanted to do something more meaningful—not just for ourselves, but for our country, the environment, and a sustainable ecosystem as a whole. As we started spending more time on this idea, we became increasingly convinced of the scale of the problem. The potential for growth in the sector looked very promising. Unfortunately, nobody was looking at the sector the way we envisioned its evolution. I am glad to say that many of the things we predicted seven or eight years ago are coming true as we speak. There’s a lot of growth potential that we have already delivered on, and we continue to maintain that momentum moving forward.

How did you pick up the name Blue Planet?
As I mentioned earlier, our focus was to drive the organization toward making tangible progress on the ground and creating meaningful impact. The idea behind the name is that the moment you hear “Blue Planet,” it doesn’t require much explanation. It immediately resonates with sustainability and environmental impact. We wanted the name to reflect our contribution to making the planet more sustainable and greener, something we all aspire to live in. Blue Planet was a very simple but powerful name, relevant to the organisation’s mission.

Tell us about Blue Planet’s approach to waste management and how you are transforming waste into valuable resources?
We started with a vision of zero landfilling, and we continue to live by it. For us, waste is not waste; it's a resource to be maximized. Once we gain access to that resource, we continue to invest in technologies that help us process, recycle, upcycle, and reuse that material so that our end goal of zero landfilling becomes a reality. That is something we have been able to contribute significantly to over the last five years. We have processed more than 15 million tonne of waste, and today, we have a processing capacity of almost 25,000 tons a day, ensuring that we extract the right value from waste that could otherwise sit in landfills for centuries. We want to make better use of that product by applying technologies and best practices. I believe we see huge potential in the circular economy ecosystem and sustainability, not only in India but for the entire global south. With bigger challenges come bigger opportunities. We need to focus on technology, refining the tech, so that we can solve problems at scale and make a much deeper and broader impact on our environment, our societies, and our neighborhoods. I am really excited about this journey so far and even more optimistic about the journey ahead.

E-waste is a well-known issue, after all these issues how are e-waste management companies contributing to achieving the net-zero goal by 2050?
There are multiple angles to the EV-based sector. I think the growth that this sector has seen over the last two decades, along with the Indian growth story, aligns very well. The IT industry has been expanding, the affordability index has risen, and the middle-class explosion has contributed significantly to the growth of the EV sector, particularly in terms of appliances and equipment. Now is the time to address the last-mile solution for the waste being generated and that which will be generated in the near future. It is essential to ensure that this waste is managed properly and given a second life. This involves not only recycling but also focusing on repurposing and refurbishment. India is still a growing economy, and a significant portion of future growth will come from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. This presents a major opportunity for refurbished goods and extending the lifecycle and lifespan of products. There are already some good examples in this space. The second aspect is the traceability of the e-waste value chain. From the moment waste is generated to its transportation, logistics, and final disposal, every step must be tracked. Establishing this traceability is crucial, and the new EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) guidelines are helping build traction in this area. Thirdly, it’s important to find mechanisms to reintroduce outputs from ethical recycling back into manufacturing, replacing virgin materials. If we can trace the products, recycle them ethically, and provide byproducts as input materials to avoid using virgin materials in OEMs and manufacturing units, it will create a robust circular economy for e-waste recycling.

It is often perceived as untouchable, and people are hesitant to invest. Recycling, as you rightly pointed out, is indeed a costly affair. What is your point on this?
This is the area where government intervention and policies play a crucial role in supporting the ecosystem. We have seen some positive action building up in this area. Number two is consumer awareness. As we see the middle-income population grow from 400 million to over 800 million in the next 25 years, many of these individuals will become consumers. When consumers are more aware, they want to contribute to sustainability and make conscious choices. However, they also want to do the right thing at the right price point. When policies and consumer awareness go hand in hand, it promotes the industry and encourages players like us to invest in technologies, build end-to-end ecosystems, and create growth avenues for the e-waste sector. This includes providing traceability, ensuring end-to-end recycling, and focusing on refurbishment to meet the growing demand in India.

How CCUS (Carbon Capture, Utilisation, and Storage) being implemented at landfills. Can you explain how storage and utilisation will work for landfills or is this formation only applicable to companies? That’s the million-dollar question. I think the government is still trying to figure it out, having stakeholder meetings with the right third-party consultants to get a framework in place for the CCUS mission. At least the formation of that mission is the first step, as it will force people to speak a common language. They will understand the priority this will bring, the right kind of policy regulations that will be required, and the necessary VGF (Viability Gap Funding) support to get it going. These things are still being deliberated as we speak, but I would say it cannot be the sole responsibility of the government. The private sector has to play an important role—not only in the initial adoption but also in ensuring that it scales up effectively. Scaling up is crucial. With the kind of population and growth potential India has in the next two decades, any solution or strategic initiative must be scaled up to a level where it has a meaningful impact. CCUS looks very promising, and there must be partnerships and collaborations with private players, aligning with the government's initiatives.

How does the circularity ecosystem for e-waste differ from that of textiles, and what are the key drivers—beyond price—that are encouraging brand owners to adopt circular economy practices? Additionally, how are ethical recyclers and traceability solutions contributing to meeting sustainability and EPR targets?
Well, I think comparing e-waste with textiles might not be the right parallel. In e-waste, the circularity ecosystem requires time and a structured approach. Earlier, the challenge was that policies were still being developed, and consumers were not as aware. When we talk about brand owners, especially global brands, their compliance requirements were very different. There are multiple drivers behind this. Price is one driver, but there are several others that mandate adoption and drive the creation of a circular economy ecosystem. For e-waste, the time is now. We are seeing a lot of momentum, significant investments, and increasing interest from brand owners. They are becoming more enthusiastic about creating a circular ecosystem and adapting to the changing mandates from their global parent companies. So, they love this kind of idea where, if we can engage with the right ethical recyclers and provide them with full traceability and trackability for the waste, they are willing to uptake the byproducts. This helps them meet their circularity, sustainability, or EPR targets.

What standards should Indian companies follow to fulfill these reporting requirements, and is there a simple explanation of the terms, conditions, and frameworks they need to adhere to, considering the varied responses companies are giving?
That’s a very important point you have raised. The readiness of the sector is still evolving. The government cannot mandate a particular framework when many variables are still being refined. Standardisation of these mandates will take a bit more time because the industry is asking the same questions. As for whether there is a single solution—unfortunately, there are multiple ways to become compliant with the BRSR reporting mechanism. The government cannot declare one framework better than another at this stage. That said, this is a step in the right direction. Over the next three to four years, we will likely see a few frameworks or tools emerge as leaders in terms of standardization. This evolution will help streamline the process and make it easier for companies to comply with BRSR reporting requirements. But this is a good step to ensure that we are starting somewhere. It has taken the last three to four years to put some timelines and restrictions in place, so people can start thinking and acting on it. Otherwise, the train wouldn't even leave the station. This has given a lot of motivation to people, and it’s not only the listed companies. We are seeing many unlisted companies proactively and voluntarily preparing for these disclosures, which is very encouraging—not just for India, but globally, because we have set aggressive targets for net-zero emissions, with deadlines in 2030, 2050, and 2070. This approach must be adopted both horizontally and vertically, as far as compliance depth is concerned.

Given the significant waste generated during large events like the Maha Kumbh, are you volunteering or involved in any way with the efforts to manage this waste? And how do you see the difference in how such events are organized today compared to 20 years ago, especially in terms of sustainability and circularity?
Not for this particular occasion, per se, but if you look at it, the way these kinds of events were organized 20 years ago versus how they are organized today is a stark difference. The government has built frameworks, and initiatives have been taken where sustainability and circularity are at the core. Many aspects, such as recycling initiatives, reduced plastic use, and maximizing the use of CNG for transportation and logistics, are being addressed. The government is taking multiple steps, and it all started with the mandate that India must contribute by building an ecosystem for such large gatherings. We are talking about 32 to 40 crore people visiting in the next couple of weeks. This is more than the population of the U.S. visiting a small city like Varanasi. Of course, if we can make an impact, and if we can establish guidelines and policies with sustainability and circularity at the core, I believe we will see good results, as we are already seeing today.

You have worked with both Indian and international companies. What differences have you observed in the way businesses operate in India compared to other countries, and how do you think India can improve in terms of technology adoption and risk-taking?
I think the Indian business ecosystem has scaled up significantly over the last decade. The whole world is watching, and we are seeing a shift in organizational culture, professionalism, and the hunger to do more—way above and beyond to deliver the right outcomes. This is something that we, as a country and business ecosystem, have made good progress on. Now, areas where we still need to work include elevation. We have started catching the surface, but there are still a lot of technological innovations, like generative AI and other solutions, being developed here. However, when it comes to creativity and taking more risks in technology adoption, I think that’s something we can learn from the developed world, where the risk-reward model is better compensated compared to India.

Do you have any expectations from the upcoming budget, particularly in terms of supporting the circularity ecosystem and waste management?
Yes, I am hopeful. As far as the finance minister is concerned, she will need to deliver on the commitments the government has made. If we talk about circularity, things like support for recycling equipment, what kind of GST support the government can provide to promote the circularity ecosystem, and incentives for waste-to-energy plants and CNG plants are important. What kind of incentives can be provided for the offtake of materials and solutions? I think this is something very important. Private-public partnerships will become key, especially given the kind of investments the sector will need over the next two decades. Okay, so I think PPP ( private public partnership) projects with the support from the government will play an important role. You also mentioned the career in the e-waste sector. I think the government has drafted some good policies for e-waste, such as EPR for plastics and e-waste. However, how to ensure that these policies are enforced and implemented on the ground will be very interesting to see. Unfortunately, as a country, we sometimes need to do more work on policy implementation. Policy formation is good, but policy implementation must be done with equal rigor. We have seen some good progress through compliance mechanisms like AGT and the Supreme Court’s involvement in enforcement. However, I think the government can contribute with more rigor when it comes to implementing these policies.