Cigarette Butts into toys, mosquito repellents. A startup emerged out of losing his job.

The harmful effects of smoking are known to everyone. The harmful effects of discarded cigarette butts are equally significant when it comes to the matter of environment. Cigarette butts are usually made of Cellulose Acetate, one of the earliest synthetic fibres. When they are discarded, these butts take around 10 years to degrade. When they are discarded on the roads and in the drains, they lead to waste accumulation in an alarming way. Also, the nicotine present in them leads to pollution. Thus, not only puffing cigarettes is harmful, the butts are way more harmful. Though thousands of articles come up every day on the internet regarding this, though every theatre and TV channel play awareness ads on the same, people still don't act mindfully. On this note, few people have directed their work in order to curb the pollution created by discarded cigarette butts. But one man from Mohali found an opportunity to make his living surrounding this concept. Let's get into the story of Twinkle Kumar who makes products from the discarded cigarette butts and is not only earning well but is also creating employment for those who are deprived of a living due to COVID-19 pandemic. 

One Loss Paved Way To A New Gain: 

Twinkle Kumar hails from Mohali, Punjab. Just like most people, the coronavirus pandemic has snatched from him, his lifeline - his job. This made him think about what best he could do during the lockdown.  He pondered over various ideas and watched the YouTube videos extensively in the hope to land upon a good idea. He came across the concept of recycling and upcycling cigarette butts in one of the YouTube videos. He also came to know that one company is already into it. He approached the company and gas learnt the process. There you go, he didn't join the company but has started one on his own.