Little had 46-year-old K. Veera Brahmam realised that when he joined the Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO)’s Advanced Systems Laboratory (ASL) in Kanchanbagh in the early 2000s, he will not only be working on Agni and other missiles, but also have the opportunity to come out with game-changing biodegradable carry bags within three months to a year!
“Plastic pollution is the bane for not only our country but the entire world. We have been working on various polymers for missile technology, and chanced upon the idea of making something as durable as plastic which will not affect nature, by using corn starch and polybutylene-adipate-terephthalate. It got quick approvals from our director M.R.M. Babu and and DRDO chairman G. Satheesh Reddy,” he said on Wednesday.
In less than two years and during the pandemic, the ASL team of scientists worked on the product and collaborated with city based ‘ecolastic products’ firm for testing and standardisation in its facility. The product was then offered to the Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanam seven months ago as carry bags for ‘prasadam’ last year.
