What started as a question about contaminated drinking water, has now turned three Indian teenagers into internationally recognized young innovators. Sixteen-year-olds Vivan Chowcharya, Ariana Agarwal and Aviana Mehta have been selected as winners of the 2026 Earth Prize Asia for their innovation “Plas-Stick”, a biodegradable solution that removes microplastics from water using tamarind seed powder.
Inspired by visits to rural communities where families stored drinking water in shared containers without advanced filtration systems, the trio developed a low-cost method aimed at addressing growing concerns about invisible plastic pollution in drinking water.
Indian teens created ‘Plas-Stick’ to fight microplastics
Plas-Stick is a biodegradable powder made primarily from tamarind seed waste, which the team says can help clump microplastics in water. According to the students, when added to contaminated water, the powder attracts microplastic particles and causes the formation of larger clumps that can then be removed using a hand-held magnet.The idea emerged after students visited rural communities and observed how people stored and shared drinking water in large containers. During one such visit, seeing a child drinking from one of the containers reportedly highlighted the issue of daily exposure to microplastics in areas where advanced filtration systems are not available.The team designed the invention as a low-cost and accessible alternative to complex purification systems.
Because it uses locally available, biodegradable materials and does not require electricity or advanced infrastructure, the solution is likely to succeed in rural and low-resource communities.The students also collaborated with specialists from the Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati, and say the project has already reached more than 8,000 students and teachers through outreach programs and demonstrations.
Why microplastics are causing global concern
Microplastics are very small plastic fragments, generally less than five millimeters in size, created by the decomposition of larger plastics, synthetic fabrics, industrial waste and packaging materials.Recent scientific studies have identified microplastics in drinking water, seafood, human blood, lungs, placenta, and even brain tissue. Researchers are still studying the long-term health effects, but many scientists increasingly view microplastic pollution as a major emerging pollution challenge.Globally, more than 2.2 billion people still lack access to safely managed drinking water infrastructure, increasing reliance on stored water that may contain microplastic contamination.
Winning the land prize
Organizers describe the Earth Prize as the world’s largest environmental competition and an “ideas incubator” for teenagers aged 13-19. Founded by the Earth Foundation in Geneva, Switzerland, during the 2019 school strike for the climate movement, the program supports youth-led sustainability projects through mentorship, educational resources and funding opportunities.The Earth Prize, now in its fifth year, says it has reached more than 21,000 students in 169 countries and territories. Previous winners are said to have gone on to secure patents, corporate partnerships and international media coverage.As Asia winners, the three Indian students received funding worth $12,500 to further develop their project, along with mentoring opportunities and international exposure.
Seven regional winners are announced globally in different regions including Asia, Africa, Europe, the Middle East and North America.Some viral social media posts incorrectly claimed that each student received $125,000 individually. Official announcements from the Land Award confirm that the team has collectively received a $12,500 regional grant.Public voting for the global winner is expected to open via the Earth Prize website, and the final global winner is scheduled to be announced on May 29.One of the most innovative aspects of the project is the use of tamarind seed waste. Tamarind seeds naturally contain viscous polysaccharides and binding compounds that may help attract and bind molecules in water.By using agricultural waste instead of synthetic chemicals, the students created a biodegradable, low-cost solution while demonstrating how locally available materials can contribute to environmental innovation.The team says it now plans to scale up the project through decentralized production centers and expand outreach to rural communities across India.
Can the invention be used commercially?
Plas-Stick is still in the development stage and has not yet undergone large-scale independent scientific validation. The invention will require further testing before it can be widely disseminated.Experts will likely need to evaluate filtration effectiveness, long-term safety, scalability, water quality standards and regulatory approval before it becomes commercially available.However, the project has already gained attention as an example of how young innovators can contribute practical ideas to major environmental challenges.