Meet Adrish– India’s first zero-waste organic lifestyle store chain that is run by people who are deeply in love with nature, are passionate about living a sustainable lifestyle and helping others to do the same.
The importance of sustainable livelihood and its positive impact on nature influenced Akshay Agarwal and Ganjendra Choudhary, co-founders of Adrish to make an impactful effort to shift from convenient harmful anti-nature lifestyle to eco-friendly zero-waste lifestyle.
Akshay reminisces, “In the beginning it was very difficult to find and get our hands on alternative eco-friendly products in the market. This made our journey to #maketheswitch more difficult and troublesome. There had to be many people like us who dearly wanted to Make the Switch, but unavailability of easy eco-friendly alternatives was a disappointment and hurdle in their decision. This rocky journey gave birth to the idea of Adrish – Zero Waste Organic Store in 2018.”
The co-founders enthusiastic perspective towards building a sustainable lifestyle eventually led them to convert the disappointment into something to be proud of and idea that can reduce these hurdles and make a Journey of #makingtheswitch.
A bumpy journey
Opening a zero-waste store was a dream of the Adrish’s co-founders and however the journey was not without its challenges.
The most crucial and major question faced by the brand in the initial years was to conceptualise the idea without any compromises. This includes that the store had to be 100% plastic-free, sustainable, and organic. In fact, the availability of alternatives for every plastic induced item in day-to-day life seemed rare. And this however inspired them to travel in search of such alternatives to the remotest parts of the country and it left them mesmerised by the insurmountable dexterity the fellow Indians have.
Zero waste is a mature concept in foreign countries and is accepted by many. Given the demand for Indian produce overseas the duo decided to embark on exports as well. On introducing Zero Waste + Organic + Indian Produce in foreign markets, they were embraced warmly and thus started their proud journey of exporting ‘Make in India’ products. The brand even opened a brick & mortar store in Seattle, USA.
Manufacturing process and sourcing of raw materials
Anyone who steps through the doors of the store will experience nostalgia about their childhood. Adrish promises to take you #Back2Basics.
“We have curated most of the products which we used to see and enjoy during our childhood days. From wooden tops and Lagori, to ‘Mitti ke Bartan’ or copperware, we have it all. It is like the good old days when we went grocery shopping with our grandpa and were able to buy as little or much as we needed,” shares Ganjendra.
Adrish aims to give its customers the wisdom of the ancient Indian lifestyle. The brand has a wide range of products including organic groceries, wood pressed oils, natural personal care items, organic sarees (handwoven, handspun), to chemical free wooden toys, earthenware, etc.
Sustainability and future plans
“Today, Adrish is a happy family of 9k+ organic farmers, rural women SHGs and local artisans. They strive day in and day out to make sustainable products available to everyone. It’s their efforts and our customers’ support which keeps us going on this beautiful journey,” adds Akshay.
Adrish aims at creating a sense of purpose which is larger, greener, and more sustainable. The brand is grateful for the sustainable efforts of its loyal customers. “Today we are able to save a minimum of 5k plastic bags and other items which are being exposed to landfills every day,” informs Ganjendra.
The brand however dreams of a day when these plastic-free items will not be considered as an alternative but an option to shop. The founders wish to rebuild and leave the planet as a better place than it is today for the future generations and are overwhelmed and glad to be part of this revolution.
Read More: Anuttama: Where artisanal chocolates meet local flavours
