In a breakthrough moment for India’s climate-tech and sustainability landscape, Without®, a Pune-based deep-tech material science startup, has unveiled its pioneering FOAK (First-of-a-Kind) recycling demonstration plant. Supported by a $1.9 million Seed Funding round and backed by actor-environmentalist Dia Mirza, the launch represents a major step in reimagining India’s approach to handling “unrecyclable” plastic waste.
At 1,030 square meters, the new FOAK plant is one of India’s first integrated facilities capable of processing up to 5 tonnes of complex post-consumer waste every month. Unlike conventional recycling setups, the plant performs end-to-end operations under one roof—material intake, separation, chemical transformation, purification, product manufacturing, and in-house lab testing. The facility acts as a scaled demonstration of Without®’s patented technology and a precursor to its first commercial plant slated for next year.
Purpose-Led Capital
Without®’s Seed Round, led by Rewilding Wealth, marks a rare instance of patient impact investing in the climate-tech ecosystem—capital that prioritises long-term systems innovation over short-term returns. The round saw participation from Dia Mirza, Spectrum Impact, ex-Unilever packaging specialist Veena More, and Acko co-founder Vishwanath Ramarao.
Dia Mirza also joins Without® as a strategic advisor, investor, and sustainability advocate. Speaking about her involvement, she said, “Without® stands out for its systemic thinking and inclusive innovation. They are proving that the climate movement can be grounded in science and justice. Watching them formalise waste labour while building globally relevant IP gives me immense hope.”
A Game-Changing Technology
At the heart of Without®’s competitive edge is its patented chemo-mechanical extraction process. This technology breaks down highly complex, post-consumer waste—from multi-layered plastics like chip packets to soiled textile blends—and converts them into high-value materials such as VERDiFLX™ polyolefins and VERDiTPA™ terephthalic acid.
Unlike pyrolysis or co-processing, Without®’s method:
- Retains material value
- Requires less energy
- Avoids burning or degrading materials
- Is modular and scalable for semi-urban and urban deployment
Founder Anish Malpani explains the vision: “This raise is not just about scale, it’s about shifting paradigms. Our goal is to prove that ethical, traceable sustainability can be commercially viable and globally scalable.”
Scaling India’s Circular Future
The company has processed over 765,000 pieces of waste between 2021–2024. Today, its customer base spans climate-conscious B2B brands looking for verifiable circular materials. As proof of concept, Without® retails products like sunglasses and home accessories in major metros including Mumbai, Delhi-NCR and Bengaluru.
Looking ahead, Without® plans to operationalise three commercial recycling hubs by FY27 and pursue international pilot projects across the UK, EU, and US. The long-term vision: a decentralised network of recycling centres built in India and deployed worldwide—each creating dignified employment for informal waste workers, proving that true circularity includes people, not just materials.
With the global circular economy expected to reach $13.4 trillion by 2030, and less than 1 per cent of India’s flexible plastics currently recycled, Without® is emerging as one of the country’s most promising sustainability innovators—powered by science, community, and strong advocates like Dia Mirza.
