State | Country: India
GreenGum is tackling critical agricultural and environmental challenges with biopolymer-based, circular solutions. By transforming spent zinc-carbon batteries and organic waste into sustainable farming inputs, they address issues of waste, soil degradation, and food insecurity — all while being affordable and farmer-friendly.”
They currently offer three flagship products:
- 🌱 NutriSphere Hydrogel – A superabsorbent hydrogel that improves soil water retention, reduces drought impact, and releases nutrients gradually.
- 🌾 AquaRetain Seed Coat – A seed coating technology that enhances germination, early growth, and seedling resilience.
- ⚡ Zinc-based Fertilizers – Derived from recycled zinc, delivering high-purity nutrients to boost crop yields.
The Problem
Agriculture and environment face converging crises:
- 🔋 Battery Waste Pollution: India discards 3 billion dry-cell batteries annually, leaking ~29,000 tons of zinc, 35,000 tons of manganese dioxide, and toxic mercury into landfills. No comprehensive disposal regulation exists.
- 🍚 Food Insecurity: 3 million people in India face food insecurity, with crop yields below global averages.
- 🌱 Soil Degradation: 33% of Earth’s soils are already degraded, projected to reach 90% by 2050. In India, poor soils reduce farm productivity and threaten livelihoods.
- 💧 Water Scarcity: Agriculture consumes 80% of freshwater while being highly vulnerable to drought.
- ⚠️ Synthetic Alternatives: Conventional hydrogels leave behind microplastic residues, disrupt soil microbes, and add costs for farmers.
GreenGum directly addresses these by turning waste into regenerative resources that improve soil, conserve water, and boost yields.
Circular Economy Alignment
GreenGum embodies circular economy principles through innovation, systems thinking, and waste valorization:
- ♻️ Waste as a Resource: Extracts zinc and manganese from discarded batteries (>98% purity) and repurposes organic waste for nutrient inputs.
- 🔄 Closed-Loop Systems: Proprietary recycling process ensures zero solid, liquid, or gaseous residue.
- 🌱 Regenerative by Design: Hydrogel and seed coatings decompose naturally, enriching soil and avoiding microplastic pollution.
- 💧 Resource Efficiency: Hydrogels absorb 400x their weight in water, reducing irrigation needs by 25–50%.
- 🌍 Systemic Approach: Addresses battery waste, soil health, water scarcity, and food security together.
- 🤝 Collaborative Model: Works with farmers, scrap dealers, and government bodies to ensure local adoption and scalability.
By closing loops and regenerating natural capital, GreenGum offers a true circular agriculture solution.
Impact
🌍 Environmental
- Prevents thousands of tons of zinc & manganese from landfills.
- Each ton of zinc recycled saves 14 tons of CO₂e and 300,000 liters of water.
- Replaces synthetic inputs, reducing microplastic pollution.
🌱 Agricultural
- Improves soil fertility, nutrient retention, and water availability.
- Boosts crop yields by up to 35%.
- Cuts irrigation needs by up to 50% and fertilizer use by 40%.
👩🌾 Social
- Supports rural livelihoods — agriculture sustains 7 million people in India, including 80% of women in rural areas.
- Improves food security by enhancing resilience in water-stressed regions.
- Provides affordable inputs (15% cheaper than imports) for smallholder farmers.
⚡ Economic
- Local sourcing reduces dependence on imported fertilizers.
- High efficiency (>97% recovery rate) ensures cost-effectiveness and scalability.
GreenGum is more than a product — it is a systems-level solution bridging waste management, regenerative agriculture, and food security. By transforming spent batteries into high-value farming inputs, GreenGum simultaneously tackles pollution, soil degradation, and farmer livelihoods.
This innovation shows how circular economy principles can create win–win outcomes for environment, economy, and communities, positioning GreenGum as a leader in sustainable agricultural transformation.
Contact Information
Founder: Pahal Garwa
Company: GreenGum (Blockceuticals Pvt. Ltd.)
Address: Near Kishan Dharam Kanta, Deh Road, Nagaur, Rajasthan – 341001
Email: pahalgarwa2405@gmail.com
Phone: +91 70735 72410