Author: Vishal Vivek

Vishal Vivek, CEO & Co-Founder of UKHI, is a sustainability entrepreneur and the former founder of Hemp Foundation, where he empowered 1,000+ farmers through 100+ SHG workshops. An MIT Bootcamp and Stanford Spark-Seed alumnus, his work—honored with the HDFC Parivartan Award—combines sustainable agriculture, innovation, and business strategy to drive both economic empowerment and environmental change. Vishal Vivek is the Founder and CEO of Ukhi, a pioneering bio-materials company dedicated to ending plastic pollution by converting agricultural waste into high-performance compostable polymers. With a background in sustainable entrepreneurship and over a decade of technology experience, he leads Ukhi’s vision to create scalable, planet-positive material solutions. Previously, Vishal founded the Hemp Foundation, where he empowered more than 1,000 farmers and advanced sustainable livelihood initiatives. His work has been recognized through awards such as the HDFC Parivartan Grant and featured in leading publications like Forbes and Entrepreneur. Times Group recognized him as a legendary entrepreneur and published his biography in “I Did IT- Vol 2” alongside social pioneers like Bindeshwar Pathak (Sulabh International) and Anshu Gupta (Goonj). Vishal has authored more than 200 articles on sustainability and hemp, reflecting his deep expertise and advocacy for regenerative solutions. His commitment to grassroots impact led him to live in the remote mountains of Uttarakhand, where he immersed himself in the lives of marginal farmers, understanding their challenges and co-creating economic opportunities through hemp-based initiatives. A deeply passionate innovator, Vishal often draws inspiration from seemingly impossible achievements: “If Elon Musk can make rockets reusable, or Dashrath Manjhi can carve a path through a mountain with rudimentary tools, why can’t we eliminate the demon of single-use plastic while uplifting struggling farmers? We will make it happen—whatever it takes.” Ukhi is proud to be supported by premier institutions including IIT Guwahati, NSRCEL-IIM Bangalore, Indian School of Business (Hyderabad), Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR Pusa), and the Indian Institute of Packaging. Vishal is committed to demonstrating that business can be a powerful catalyst for global environmental and social good.

How to Make Your Fashion Brand Export-Ready with Sustainable Packaging

The fashion industry is responsible for 4% of the total global greenhouse emissions. A lot of that comes from the packaging that is used for fashion products. But fashion brands want to build responsibly. That’s

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How to Process Bio-PBAT Resin: A Practical Guide for Converters

Data shows that more than 70% of converters who switch to bio PBAT resin face immediate issues. Sometimes, it’s bubble instability, while other times, it’s blocking during their first runs. That’s not a coincidence. On

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Why Bio-PBAT Is the Next Big Thing in Compostable Packaging

If you follow the world of sustainable packaging, you may have noticed one term coming up again and again. That term is Bio-PBAT. But what is it exactly, and why has it become so important

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How Bioplastics Are Made: Process, Materials, and Examples

The bioplastics market is expected to jump from $7.5 billion (2023) to $36.05 billion by 2030. That’s a 25% CAGR.  This rise is not accidental. It is driven by eco-conscious consumers, sustainability-driven businesses, and government

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Environmental Impact of Single-Use Plastics: Key Facts for 2026

Each year, the world produces over 430 million tonnes of plastic. And nearly half of it is designed to be used just once and thrown away.  As we head into 2026, the scale of single-use

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What Is Agricultural Waste and How Is It Used to Make Bioplastics?

We produce billions of tons of agricultural waste each year. These stalks, husks, straw, peels, and fibrous residues remain after food is harvested. Most of it has little economic value today. Much of it is

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Circular Economy for Plastics: What It Is and Why It Matters

For decades, there has been an established model of production known as the linear model.  Raw materials are extracted. Products are made. They are used for a short time. Then they are thrown away. In

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Bioplastics Glossary: PLA, PHA, Bio-PBAT and More Explained

Bioplastics is one of the most misunderstood words in sustainability. Ask ten people what it means, and you’ll get ten different answers. Some say it’s plastic made from plants, others say it’s plastic that disappears

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5 Common Bioplastics Myths (And the Facts)

Bioplastics are everywhere these days. You see bioplastic packaging, bioplastic bottles, and even bioplastic cutlery. They’re marketed as the eco-friendly alternative to traditional plastics, and with good reason. In fact, the bioplastics industry hit USD

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How to Read Plastic Packaging Symbols: The Complete Guide

Imagine holding two plastic packages in your hands. Both show a triangle. Both look official. Both seem to suggest the same thing. But they don’t. One triangle tells you what the plastic is made of.

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