A ‘Beyond Waste’ Twist to Sustainable Gifting: Upcycling for a Greener Future

In Cuttack, entrepreneur Lipsa Behura leads change in the gifting industry. She runs ‘Beyond Waste’. She takes waste and turns it into eco-friendly gifts. She started the venture in 2022. Consumers now see a new way to embrace sustainability through upcycling.

Turning Waste into Wonders

Lipsa uses shredded fabric scraps, crumpled cardboards, torn paper, discarded coconut shells, and crushed plastic bottles. These waste items become the raw material for her products. Lipsa makes different items such as:

• Jewellery from scrap Sambalpuri fabric
• Recycled paper diaries
• Scented candles from coconut shells and natural spices
• Wall hangings and fridge magnets from upcycled paper and cardboard
• Lamps from repurposed glass bottles

Each item joins beauty and care for the earth. The work keeps the materials close to one another in their purpose.

Inspiration and Impact

Lipsa earned an MBA from Sri Sri University. She began her journey with an internship in rural villages. She took part in the local NGO program ‘Youth for Sustainability’. These experiences built her view of climate change. They made her see the need to manage plastic waste quickly.

Lipsa shares, “The gifting sector grows fast, but sustainability is often left behind. Plastic use is a big problem. With Beyond Waste, I want to show that gifts can keep our carbon footprint low.”

Overcoming Challenges

Quality and durability of recycled products were hard to get at first. Lipsa and her team tried many methods. They looked at each step to treat and combine waste materials well. They kept each process simple so that each word and action stayed close in meaning.

Growing Demand for Eco-Gifts

Beyond Waste sells items at the Cuttack store, on social media, and at local events like the Balijatra festival. Early sales were small. More people now learn about plastic pollution. They choose eco-friendly gifts as a sign of change.

Lipsa says, “People choose these upcycled items as gifts and for daily use. This shift speaks to their care for our earth.”

Beyond Waste shows how ideas and eco-conscious care can work side by side. The venture offers small steps to reduce waste and lower carbon footprints. As new ideas grow in gifting, Lipsa Behura lights the way with greener celebrations and mindful shopping.

Source: The New Indian Express, November 16, 2025

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