GREENOVATION

Circularity Challenge

Calling all startups, social enterprises, and innovators building the future of India’s circular economy.

Seeking affordable, scalable, and climate-positive solutions that transform plastic, textile, and food waste into valuable resources while strengthening India’s transition towards a circular economy.

An EarthON Initiative in Collaboration with Greenovation Hub

Challenge Overview

The Systemic Bottleneck Holding Back India’s Circular Economy

Behind India’s growing economy lies an equally growing waste challenge. Millions of tonnes of plastic, textile, and food waste are generated every year, yet much of it never returns to the economy as a valuable resource. Instead, recyclable materials remain contaminated, reusable textiles are discarded, and organic waste ends up in landfills.

The Greenovation Circularity Challenge, an EarthON Foundation initiative in collaboration with Greenovation Hub and SwitchON Foundation, steps in to change this narrative. We identify, support, and scale innovations that recover value from waste, strengthen circular supply chains, and create practical solutions that make circularity commercially viable across India.

The Reward

20 Lakh in Total Prize Pool | Up to 4 Crore Follow on Funding

Eligibility

Open Pan-India (Registered startups, SMEs, and social enterprises (Under 10 Years)).

Our Three Critical Action Pillars

Plastic

Building solutions that improve the recovery, reuse, and recycling of plastic waste.

  • Waste collection, segregation, and smart sorting technologies.
  • Mechanical, chemical, and enzymatic recycling innovations.
  • Small-scale recycling solutions for multilayer and low-value plastics.
  • Bio-based alternatives to conventional plastics.
  • Reuse, refill, and circular packaging systems.
  • Material traceability and recycled-content verification platforms.
  • Business models that strengthen waste picker and informal recycling networks.

Textile

Creating technologies and business models that extend textile life and recover value from textile waste.

  • Textile waste collection and sorting systems.
  • Fibre identification and grading technologies.
  • Fibre-to-fibre recycling and blend separation innovations.
  • Upcycled and regenerated textile products.
  • Repair, resale, reuse, and take-back models.
  • Sustainable textile materials.
  • Digital Product Passports and material traceability platforms.

Food

Transforming food waste into valuable economic and environmental opportunities.

  • Post-harvest management and shelf-life extension technologies.
  • Food waste prevention and surplus redistribution platforms.
  • Organic waste collection and resource recovery systems.
  • Composting, biogas, and bio-based product innovations.
  • Food by-product valorisation.
  • Circular food supply chain and traceability solutions.

Why You Should Join the Cohort

Catalytic Capital:  A share of the ₹20 Lakh prize pool to support winners in implementing and scaling immediate field solutions.

Long-Term Funding Pipeline: High-potential cohort graduates unlock access to future investment pathways through EarthON Gurukul, with opportunities for mentorship, blended finance, and investment support of up to ₹4 Crore through the EarthON Blended Finance Platform and GreenovatiON Fund.

The 2-Day Residential Bootcamp: An intensive programme designed to strengthen technology validation, business models, investment readiness, and go-to-market strategies through mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs and industry experts.

Global Ecosystem Visibility: Show your work directly to policymakers, global climate finance networks, investors, and industry leaders.

The Eligibility

Challenge Timeline

Key milestones for the Greenovation Agri Mechanization Challenge

Launch
Webinars
Screening and Shortlisting
Application Form Deadline
Evaluation of Applications
Announcement of Bootcamp Attendees
Virtual Accelerator
Residential Bootcamp (2 days)
Finale
August 14, 2026
August 28 to September 18, 2026
October 1 - 6, 2026
October 7 - 225, 2026
October 26 - 29, 2026
October 30 2026
November 3 - 20, 2026
November 23 - 24, 2026
November 25, 2026

India’s Circular Economy Needs Better Solutions

Bring Your Breakthrough to the Challenge

Our Partners

Collaborating with leading organisations 

Ecosystem Partners

Outreach Partner

Platform Partner

About Greenovation Hub

The Greenovation & ONganic Hub functions as SwitchON Foundation’s flagship accelerator network, nurturing eco-entrepreneurs and climate innovators who are actively reimagining India’s green economy through technical mentorship, bootcamps, and scaling support.

About EarthON Foundation

EarthON Foundation aims to empower 10,000 eco champions in the Global South and impact 1 billion lives. We support grassroots innovators through trust-based financial support, mentorship, and global network pipelines.

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