Boldly into the Future: Shakti Yadav's TEDx Talk on Buy Food with Plastic India

The concept of Buy Food with Plastic is simple but effective: We exchange a warm meal for plastic bottles. This idea has proven to be a great way to tackle two global problems at once: hunger and pollution caused by plastic waste. Our Country Manager in India, Shakti Yadav, recognized the potential. At the TEDx Powai event on February 19, 2023, he reported on how Buy Food with Plastic came to India and transformed from a ridiculed idea into a successful concept.

Shakti Yadav saw the need and poverty in his neighborhood in Bhandup, Mumbai, and searched for a solution to help the people there. But he had no idea that could work, let alone the means to provide help. In search of a feasible solution, Shakti was browsing social media. There he saw a video in which Buy Food with Plastic presented its concept: food for plastic bottles. The idea was so incredible that he showed the video to his friends. They all shook their heads: "That will never work!", they said. After all, how can food be exchanged for worthless plastic waste?

But the concept of Buy Food with Plastic kept Shakti thinking. He wanted to help the needy in Bhandup, Mumbai, and at the same time do something about the plastic waste. The waste piles up in the streets of the Bhandup slum, damages nature, clogs drains, and poisons the groundwater. Especially during the monsoon season, the waste poses a major problem, as it clogs the drains and contributes to flooding. In addition, the heavy rains wash even more plastic into the rivers and eventually into the sea. So he decided to try out the concept.

Awareness workshop with children in Bhandup, Mumbai, India.

Giving plastic waste value

Shakti contacted Khalil Radi, co-founder and CEO of Buy Food with Plastic, whom he had to convince over a long period about a pilot project in Mumbai. Two years after the first contact, Shakti was finally able to hold the first event in Bhandup. It was a very sobering experience, because the people did not fully understand the concept at first. "Food can only be bought with money, but certainly not with plastic waste!", was the common opinion. If the concept was to succeed, this attitude had to be changed. And so Shakti decided to also hold awareness workshops at the events. The people had to realize that plastic waste is valuable and that its recycling not only benefits the environment, but is also worth a warm meal. And so a supposedly ridiculous idea became a success story. On average, 250 people participate in the community events, which are to take place every month this year. We educate children about plastic waste using specially created educational booklets, so that they can take this knowledge home to their families and apply it in everyday life.

We have proven that with a common cause, belief in success, and passion, we can achieve a lot, even though we operate on different continents. You can help us continue this success story by donating to India now. Your support is urgently needed, and you can use it to make a positive impact and make a big difference. Let's do good together!

Watch the video of Shakti's talk at the TEDx Powai event