Waste and pollution are two concerning issues in the cities. Startup Golden Feathers has emerged to address the problem. Radhesh Agrahari is the visionary behind it. His initiative converts chicken butchery waste into wool-like fiber and handmade paper. It is an innovative idea to reducing river pollution.
The journey of Radhesh started at the Indian Institute of Crafts and Design in Jaipur. A twist of fate there led him to the new idea. He was balancing his studies with a short-term job in Agra. Once, he missed an important class where students picked waste materials for research projects. All the typical topics like plastic and sanitary napkins were taken when he returned. He was without any choice. However, he stumbled upon an unexpected opportunity. He bought chicken to lift his spirits.
He realized that a kilogram of chicken yielded just 650 grams of meat and the remaining weight was considered waste. He asked the seller to pack the waste separately. He took the bag of chicken waste to college. Classmates felt uncomfortable but his teachers saw potential in it. He was thereafter encouraged to explore solutions for chicken butchery waste. He spent nearly 13 years researching to find a solution. He was able to transform the initial spark into a viable business.
Radhesh collaborated with various organizations such as Tribes India throughout his research journey. Chicken waste pollution receives little attention with respect to river pollution. It is estimated that chicken butchery waste accounts for about 32.17% of waste in major Indian rivers.
Radhesh founded Golden Feathers in 2019. The startup collects chicken waste from slaughterhouses and sterilizes it with high-temperature steam. It transforms the processed waste into a wool-like fiber by using natural ingredients. The fiber is similar to pashmina and is thereafter woven into various products like shawls, quilts, stoles and even handmade paper. Feathers unsuitable for spinning are repurposed into quilts, jackets, pillows and fish feed. This means that every part of the waste is utilized.
