A single one-litre plastic water bottle can contain as many as 240,000 tiny pieces of plastic — particles that may enter the human body with every sip. The scale of plastic pollution from everyday bottles is a growing concern, particularly in places where discarded waste accumulates in fragile ecosystems. In Kerala’s backwaters, a group of friends began noticing this problem up close. Hundreds of discarded mineral water bottles were floating across the region’s pristine waterways, disrupting an environment known for its natural beauty. Troubled by the sight, Aswin, Alen and Basil decided to act. Their response was Bakwa, a brand that produces bottles designed to replace conventional plastic packaging. At first glance, the bottles look like ordinary plastic. But they are made using polylactide (PLA), a bioplastic extracted from sugarcane and cornstarch. PLA behaves much like plastic. It is durable, practical for everyday use, and can store both hot and cold drinks. However, unlike conventional plastic bottles, these alternatives are designed to decompose within 180 days. The bottles are also free of BPA and contain zero conventional plastic. Even the small components are designed with the same principle in mind. The cap and label are compostable, ensuring the entire product aligns with the idea of reducing long-term waste. View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Better India (@thebetterindia) Bakwa’s bottles are sold at Rs 30 for a one-litre bottle, making them comparable to the cost of many standard bottled water products available in the market. Alongside the product itself, the founders also introduced an initiative called the Free Water Project. Under this model, local brands advertise on the bottle labels, covering the production cost. As a result, consumers receive the bottle for free, turning the packaging itself into a platform for awareness while keeping it accessible. In just six months, the initiative has already distributed more than 10,000 bottles. The effort draws attention to a much larger national issue. Each year in India, an estimated 2.8 lakh tonnes of plastic bottle waste is never collected. Much of this waste eventually finds its way into rivers, oceans and other natural environments. Alternatives such as bottles made from PLA offer one possible direction for addressing this growing challenge. By using materials derived from sugarcane and cornstarch that can break down within months rather than persisting for years, such innovations attempt to rethink everyday packaging. As plastic waste continues to accumulate across ecosystems, solutions that reduce reliance on conventional plastic are gaining attention. The question remains: if alternatives like these were available all over the country, would people still choose traditional plastic bottles? Sources: ‘ Interview: Progressive Malayalam film industry should have a safe work environment for men and women, says actor Bhavana ’: by Arjun Ramachandran, Published on  26 February 2026. ‘ Plastic particles in bottled water ’: Published in the National Institute of Health on 23 January 2024.