Can you introduce yourself and explain how sustainability became a core part of your
life?
We are Anupama Gokhale and Batul Tambawala, co-founders of Upcycle – Let’s Transform, a social enterprise that gives waste a second life. Through Upcycle, we transform discarded materials from fabric scraps and single-use plastics into beautiful, functional, and sustainable lifestyle products.
Our journey began with a shared realization that the amount of waste surrounding us in our daily lives was not just alarming, but deeply personal. What started as small acts of mindful living at home saying no to plastic, repurposing old fabrics, and composting soon grew into something larger. We asked ourselves:
What if waste could be transformed into something valuable, something beautiful, something useful?
That question became the foundation of Upcycle. What began over a phone call in 2018 as an idea to reduce plastic waste used while buying fruits and vegetables in the supermarket sustainable, has now grown into a movement that encourages people and businesses alike to rethink consumption and embrace eco-friendly choices.
How do you keep yourselves updated on the latest information and developments in climate change and sustainability?
We make it a point to stay continuously inspired and informed. We follow sustainability innovators, designers, events and eco-entrepreneurs on LinkedIn and Instagram, read digital journals that highlight eco-initiatives and stay active in regional environmental communities across India and the UAE.
We also attend sustainability exhibitions, conscious marketplaces, and climate conferences where changemakers come together to share ideas and innovations. These experiences don’t just keep us updated but they fuel our creativity and reaffirm that collaboration is the key to long-term environmental impact.
Which Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) do you resonate with the most, and why?
We deeply resonate with SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production. It captures the essence of what Upcycle stands for reducing waste by designing eco-friendly alternatives and inspiring mindful consumer habits.
At Upcycle, our mission has always been to make sustainability accessible and appealing. Through our workshops and products, we encourage individuals to make small swaps to carry their own cutlery instead of using single-use plastic, to choose reusable pouches, or to gift consciously. We believe responsible consumption isn’t about doing everything perfectly, but about making better choices, one step at a time.
What are your thoughts on climate change and the four key categories of individual emissions? How do you calculate your individual emissions?
Climate change is no longer a distant threat but a daily reality that touches communities, economies, and our shared future. For us, it’s not just an environmental issue, it’s a moral responsibility.
We are mindful of our impact across the four key categories of emissions: energy, food, travel, and consumption. While we don’t rely on carbon calculators, we consciously make everyday choices to reduce and refuse unnecessary consumption.
Avoiding family travel entirely is difficult, but we remain intentional in choosing sustainable options wherever possible and being mindful of our footprint when we do travel. We also plant trees and encourage our customers to do the same through our campaigns at Upcycle.
At home and in our workspace, we follow simple yet effective habits: using solar lighting wherever possible, switching off unused electrical devices, running appliances like washing machines during off-peak load hours, and ensuring efficient energy use.
In terms of food, we plan our groceries carefully, buy only what we need, and carry our own containers for takeaways to reduce packaging waste.
What innovations or unique practices have you introduced in your daily life that have helped reduce your environmental footprint?
Our philosophy is simple, sustainability is a habit, not a trend. Personally, we’ve adopted habits such as composting, carrying our own reusables, making natural cleaners at home, and supporting thrift and second-hand markets.
Professionally, through Upcycle, we’ve turned waste into opportunity. Every product is born from discarded material from tote bags made of chips wrappers, to grow bags stitched from PET bottles, to multipurpose pouches sewn from leftover fabric. Each sourced product tells a story of transformation, waste saved, artisans empowered, and impact multiplied.
In what ways do you balance sustainability with your personal or professional goals?
For both of us, sustainability isn’t separate from success it defines who we are.
On a personal level, we practice conscious living while allowing space for practicality and joy. Professionally, we’ve built Upcycle on the belief that good design and sustainability can coexist. Every collaboration we take on is intentional, every product designed to be functional, durable, and planet-friendly.
We often say: our goal isn’t to be the biggest brand, but to be the most mindful one.
Could you share a particularly challenging moment you faced while pursuing sustainability and how you overcame it?
One of our biggest challenges was shifting public perception, helping people understand that eco-friendly products could be just as durable, stylish, and functional as conventional ones.
Initially, many assumed sustainability meant compromise or expensive. We addressed this through quality craftsmanship, vibrant aesthetics, and storytelling. When people see how an old fabric scrap or plastic bottle can be reborn into a beautiful, useful product, their skepticism turns into appreciation. That change in mindset has been one of our proudest achievements.
What causes are you most passionate about, and how do you actively contribute to
them?
We are equally passionate about waste reduction, women’s empowerment and conscious
living.
At Upcycle, we collaborate with local women artisans and self-help groups, offering them training, fair wages, and a platform to showcase their craft. Many of these women were previously homemakers or informal workers and today, they are skilled artisans contributing directly to sustainable change.
Beyond creating livelihoods, we conduct eco-living workshops across schools and organizations, helping people understand that sustainability isn’t a one-time act, it’s a way of thinking and living.
How do you involve your friends, family, or community in your sustainability efforts?
Our journey began at home, with our families practicing waste segregation, switching to reusable alternatives, and celebrating festivals mindfully. Over time, our community became our biggest allies.
Through Upcycle workshops and social media, we now invite people to share their own sustainable swaps and success stories. Whether it’s a child crafting a reusable decoration or a family switching to fabric gift wraps, every story adds to the collective impact. It’s these small, community-driven actions that build real change.
As you move forward, what new sustainability goals do you have in mind for the future?
Our next goal is to scale Upcycle’s reach and deepen its impact, expanding our global footprint while preserving our community-based, ethical model.
We aim to develop an online learning platform where individuals and businesses can easily access sustainability resources and DIY tutorials. We also plan to collaborate with corporates and schools to embed sustainability into everyday systems from gifting to office culture to education.