Three students from India have won The Earth Prize 2026 for developing an innovative solution to tackle microplastics in water. Sixteen-year-olds Avyana Mehta, Vivaan Chhawchharia and Ariana Agarwal created Plas-Stick, a powder made from waste tamarind seeds that attracts microplastics, causing them to clump together so they can be removed using a handheld magnet.
Designed for use in shared water containers, the solution offers a simple, low-cost alternative to complex filtration systems.
The idea took shape by the team’s studies in environmental science and a visit to a rural community where they observed that drinking water is often stored in shared containers without access to advanced filtration systems. “Microplastics stood out to us because they are invisible, but the risk is very real. In many rural communities, people drink water without knowing what may be present in it,” the team told Mongabay-India via email.
Determined to create a solution that was both effective and accessible, the students developed a system that required no electricity or complex infrastructure. “We came up with the solution by first being very clear about the problem we wanted to solve. Once that was clear, we started looking for materials that were already available around us. Tamarind seeds stood out because they are often treated as waste, but they have natural binding properties. We tested whether they could help bring microplastic particles together, and developed the solution further,” they said.
Already deployed, Plas-Stick has so far reached more than 8,000 students and teachers, and the team has also collaborated with professionals from Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati.
With support from The Earth Prize, the team plans to scale the solution through decentralised production hubs and expand into rural communities across India, making safer drinking water more accessible. “The prize money will help us scale Plas-Stick in a more structured and responsible way. By the end of 2026, we hope to grow from educating 8,000 people about it to around 35,000–40,000.”
In its fifth year, The Earth Prize 2026 is organised by The Earth Foundation, a non-profit based in Geneva that aims to empower, educate and inspire young people to tackle environmental challenges. Founded in response to the 2019 student-led climate rallies, The Earth Prize was launched as the world’s largest environmental competition and “ideas incubator” for young people.
Banner image: Team Plas-Stick and their solution (a handheld magnet attracts a clump of waste tamarind seed powder and microplastics. Image courtesy of The Earth Prize.
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