SWITZERLAND | The Earth Prize 2026 has named its Global Winners: 16-year-olds Vivaan Chhawchharia, Ariana Agarwal and Avyana Mehta from India.
Their solution, Plas-Stick, is a biodegradable magnetic tamarind powder that removes microplastics from water. Notably, Plas-Stick is the first-ever Global Winner from India.
Around 23,000 people cast their votes to select the Global Winner from seven inspiring Regional Winners representing every continent: North America, Africa, Asia, Central and South America, Oceania and Southeast Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.
Plas-Stick will also now receive a sustainably crafted ‘100-year’ flag to be flown at their school, handsewn from recycled sailboat sails, and passed on from the previous winners.
"Being named the Global Winners of The Earth Prize is incredibly special for all of us, especially as the first team from India to receive this recognition,” said the winners.
“What started as an idea between students has now been recognised among thousands of projects from around the world, which feels both surreal and deeply motivating. We hope this not only helps us scale Plas-Stick further, but also encourages more young people to believe that their ideas can create meaningful environmental change."
3-phase demonstration - Adding the powder to coloured water, mixing, and attracting clumped microplastics using a handheld magnet
The idea for Plas-Stick emerged after the team visited a rural community where drinking water was commonly stored in shared plastic containers, without advanced filtration systems.
During this visit, seeing a child drink from one of these containers highlighted exposure to microplastics through everyday drinking water, particularly in underserved rural communities in India. Globally, over 2.2 billion people lack safe, managed drinking water infrastructure, increasing reliance on stored water that may contain microplastics.
Determined to create a solution, the team developed a biodegradable powder made from discarded tamarind seeds. When added to water, the powder attracts and binds microplastic particles into visible clumps, which can then be removed with a handheld magnet. Designed to work without electricity or complex machinery, the solution is low-cost and scalable.
Already deployed through workshops and demonstrations, Plas-Stick has reached and educated more than 8,000 students and teachers. The team was advised by Dr Rajesh Khandelwal to further strengthen testing and development of the technology.
"Team Plas-Stick represents exactly the kind of innovation The Earth Prize was created to elevate: solutions that are scientifically grounded, environmentally responsible and accessible to the communities that need them most,” said Peter McGarry, Founder of The Earth Foundation.
“By transforming agricultural waste into a practical tool for removing microplastics from drinking water, these young innovators are addressing a growing global challenge with remarkable creativity and purpose."
Following their Global Winner recognition, the team now plans to scale the solution through decentralised production hubs and expand to rural communities across India, making safer drinking water more accessible.
Like many students taking part in The Earth Prize, the team turned a problem they witnessed firsthand into a practical environmental solution. Now in its fifth year, The Earth Prize has reached over 21,000 students across 169 countries and territories.
