Ukhi

About Ukhi

Ukhi is a materials innovation startup that manufactures biodegradable and compostable bioplastic granules from agricultural waste. Founded in 2019 by Vishal Vivek, Priyanka Chauhan, and Sundeep Kumar Tyagi, the company is headquartered in Faridabad, India, with operations in Haryana and Uttarakhand. The co-founders' journey began when CEO Vishal Vivek, a serial entrepreneur, witnessed the economic and environmental decline in Uttarakhand villages and saw the potential of wild-growing hemp. He partnered with Priyanka Chauhan and polymer industry veteran Sundeep Tyagi, who brought three decades of technical and manufacturing expertise to the venture.

Ukhi's core product, EcoGran, is a home-compostable biopolymer derived from lignocellulosic agricultural residues such as hemp, flax, and nettle. This patent-pending technology provides a sustainable alternative to conventional petroleum-based plastics. The granules are designed for various manufacturing processes, including blown film extrusion, injection molding, and thermoforming, to produce a wide range of products like food packaging and shopping bags. The business model focuses on providing these granules to industries such as FMCG and e-commerce, helping them reduce their carbon footprint and comply with environmental regulations. By converting agricultural waste into valuable materials, Ukhi aims to address plastic pollution and reduce the practice of crop burning.

The company has secured $1.2 million in pre-seed funding from investors including 100Unicorns, Venture Catalysts, and SIDBI (Small Industries Development Bank of India). Ukhi has established strategic partnerships with academic and research institutions like the Indian Institute of Packaging (IIP), IIT Mandi, IIM Bangalore, and The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) to advance its research, development, and market adoption. The startup is expanding its operations globally, with planned entries into the UK and Netherlands markets.