Indian teenagers Vivaan Chhawchharia,
Ariana Agrawal, and Avyana Mehta were announced as the first global winners of
The Earth Prize 2026
¨
On 1 June 2026, Indian
teenagers Vivaan Chhawchharia, Ariana Agrawal, and Avyana Mehta were announced
as the first global winners of The Earth Prize 2026.
¨
The 16-year-old
innovators won the award for Plas-Stick, a biodegradable water purification
solution.
¨
Plas-Stick is made from
tamarind seed waste.
¨
The innovation is
designed to remove microplastics from water.
¨
It works as a powder that
attracts microplastic particles and causes them to clump together.
¨
The clumped particles can
then be removed using a handheld magnet.
¨
The process is low-cost,
energy-free, and environmentally friendly.
¨
Tamarind seed waste, an
agricultural by-product, serves as the primary raw material.
¨
The project was developed
with a focus on rural and resource-constrained communities.
¨
The team collaborated
with experts from Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati during the
development of the project.
¨
As the Asia Regional
Winner, the team received a grant of US$12,500 from The Earth Prize 2026.
¨ Through awareness and demonstration activities, the project has engaged more than 8,000 students and teachers.
¨ The innovation represents a significant step toward addressing microplastic pollution and promoting sustainable water treatment solutions.
