Without®, a Pune-based impact-first deep-tech material science enterprise, announces the launch of its pioneering FOAK recycling demonstration plant in Pune, a move that aims to bridge the gap between innovation and inclusivity. The launch marks one of India’s first integrated facilities capable of processing up to 5 tons/month of “unrecyclable” plastic waste.

The 1,030 square meter facility houses end-to-end processing, from material intake and separation to chemical transformation, purification, and product manufacturing, with quality control and fully-stacked chemical lab testing embedded into a single operational stack. This FOAK plant is a precursor to a fully-fledged commercial plant slated for next year.

This milestone is boosted by the support of truly patient impact investors through the close of a $1.9 million (approximately INR 16.8 crore) Seed Funding Round, led by Rewilding Wealth. The round also saw participation from actor-environmentalist Dia Mirza, impact fund Spectrum Impact, ex-Unilever’s Packaging Lead, Veena More and Acko co-founder Vishwanath Ramarao. Dia Mirza also comes on board Without® as a strategic advisor, investor and advocate.

 This funding represents a rare instance of truly patient impact capital in the climate tech space, enabling Without® to prioritise long-term systems innovation over short-term returns, a luxury not often afforded to early-stage ventures in this domain. This move marks a significant milestone in the company’s plan to commercialise its proprietary recycling technology and scale its footprint across India and global B2B markets.

Without’s biggest competitive advantage is its patented process chemo-mechanically extracts raw materials from the most complex post-consumer waste like multi-layered plastic (eg, chip packets, chocolate wrappers) and soiled textiles into high-grade polyolefins (VERDiFLX™) and terephthalic acid (VERDiTPA™). Unlike pyrolysis or co-processing, Without’s technology retains material value, runs on lower energy and is modularly scalable for urban and semi-urban deployment. 

Anish Malpani, Founder and Director of Without® said, “This raise is not just about scale, it's about shifting paradigms. We are combining science, systems thinking and impact to build a new model for sustainable manufacturing. Our goal is to prove that ethical, traceable sustainability can be commercially viable and scalable across India and the world. This funding will accelerate our efforts to industrialise our IP, grow our plant network, and position India as a global leader in recycling innovation.”

Dia Mirza, actor, environmentalist and minority investor in the round, said, “I have backed several green ventures over the years, but Without® stands out for its systemic thinking and inclusive innovation. They are proving that the climate movement can be grounded in science and justice. Watching them formalise waste labour while building globally relevant IP gives me hope and makes me proud to support this journey.”

The company’s target customer base spans climate-conscious, forward-looking B2B brands seeking verifiable circular materials for their supply chains. As a proof of concept, Without® also retails its products (like sunglasses and coasters) across major Indian metros like Mumbai, Delhi/NCR and Bangalore through its website and selected offline partnerships. It has processed over 765,000 pieces of complex waste between 2021–2024 .

Looking ahead, Without® plans to launch at least three commercial recycling hubs in other Indian cities by FY27, and pursue international pilots in partnership with government and development agencies. Over the next 7–10 years, the company’s vision is to develop a decentralised network of recycling centres capable of handling all types of post-consumer plastic and textile waste built in India, for the world, and powered by communities that have been left behind by traditional systems. Each facility will create dignified employment for the informal urban waste workers, proving that real circularity includes people, not just materials.

Without® currently showcases proof-of-concept products on its website, but its core business model is B2B/B2B2C - enabling climate-conscious brands to be more sustainable and ethical without compromising on quality.

The company is building scalable partnerships across four key verticals: eyewear, fashion accessories, cosmetics packaging, and signage solutions.

The new capital will be used to scale its IP-driven pilot infrastructure, increase monthly production capacity, invest in talent across engineering and materials science, and deepen B2B partnerships across India, the UK, EU, and US.

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Without® is also actively exploring follow-on capital to accelerate global expansion, infrastructure development, and deeper R&D across material-grade refinement and end-product versatility. 

The global circular economy market is projected to reach $13.4 trillion by 2030, with consumers increasingly demanding genuine, traceable and ethical sustainability. Less than 1% of flexible plastics in India are recycled, a gap Without® is bridging through innovation and inclusivity.