What if you can fight the growing pollutions problems with just a seed. Three sixteen year olds won an award for their invention ‘Plas-Stick’- a tool that extracts microplastics from water, utilizing a powder derived from waste tamarind seeds and the use of a handheld magnet.
Vivaan Chhawchharia, Ariana Agarwal, and Avyana Mehta became the first team from India to claim the title Global Winners of The Earth Prize 2026. The idea sparked during their trip from school to a rural village where they discovered a child drinking water from one of these containers, realizing how pervasive the problem is and how invisible it is to the naked eye. Determined to find a practical solution, the trio along with researchers from IIT Guwahati discovered this solution.
How Does Plas-Stick Work?
Plas-Stick is a biodegradable magnetic powder made from discarded tamarind seeds. When added to water, the microplastics bind to the water into visible clumps which are then removed using a handheld magnet.
The solution does not require electricity, expensive machinery or complex infrastructure, making it particularly useful for underserved communities
Whats next?
Plas-Stick has been showcased through workshops and demonstrations and has reached over 8,000 students and teachers so far. Using the prize money, the trio decided to expand the technology through decentralized production hubs and bring it to more rural communities across India.
The Earth Prize is considered the world’s largest environmental competition for young people aged 13 to 19.