Vivaan Chhawchharia

What they built

Co-founded Plas-Stick, a biodegradable magnetic powder made from discarded tamarind seeds that removes microplastics from drinking water. After visiting rural communities storing water in plastic containers without access to filtration systems, the team developed a solution that causes microplastic particles to clump together so they can be extracted with a handheld magnet. Low-cost and biodegradable, it is designed for real-world deployment in underserved communities globally.

Verified track record

• 2026 Earth Prize Global Winner (world's largest environmental competition for ages 13–19, 21,000+ students from 169 countries); 2026 Earth Prize Asia Regional Winner ($12,500 prize); CNN interview (June 16, 2026); Mongabay India (May 25, 2026); PR Newswire / The Earth Prize Newsroom (May 29, 2026); India West; Ocean Magazine Australia. Sources: ; https://www.cnn.com/2026/06/16/world/video/earth-prize-winner-ariana-agarwal-full-intv-061302aseg2-cnni-world-fast (source)