UKHI partners DCGpac to accelerate biopolymer based sustainable packaging across India

New Delhi: UKHI, an IIT and IIM-incubated material science startup pioneering biopolymers derived from agricultural waste, has announced a strategic partnership with DCGpac, one of the India’s largest B2B packaging distribution platform.

Effective immediately, this alliance will enable nationwide access to EcoGran™, UKHI’s proprietary compostable biopolymer granules, via all major online marketplaces.

Backed by marquee institutions including IIT, ISB, 100 Unicorns, and Venture Catalysts, UKHI is at the forefront of India’s bioeconomy revolution. Its EcoGran™ material empowers businesses to significantly reduce their plastic usage, cut down carbon emissions, and lower packaging costs—while enhancing their environmental compliance and social responsibility impact.

The partnership arrives at a crucial time as India continues its enforcement of the single-use plastic ban, which restricts the use of plastic bags under 75 microns, cutlery, plates, straws, wrappers, and several other plastic-based products. UKHI’s EcoGran™ offers manufacturers a direct and high-performing replacement that complies with regulations while delivering a superior sustainability profile.

“This alliance with DCGpac represents a transformative moment for India’s circular economy,” said Vishal Vivek, Co-Founder & CEO of UKHI. “Together, we’re not just distributing a product—we’re enabling a movement. EcoGran™ allows businesses to reduce their plastic footprint, meet ESG goals, and achieve cost savings simultaneously.”

While many companies have shifted to paper-based packaging as an alternative, EcoGran™ offers a more sustainable and cost-efficient option. Paper packaging often requires additional coatings and is typically 30–40% more expensive than conventional plastics. In contrast, EcoGran™ matches performance standards and offers complete compostability within 180 days—while reducing packaging costs by 15–25%.

Under this collaboration, UKHI will focus on the production of EcoGran™ at its new manufacturing facility, while DCGpac will handle marketing, e-commerce listing, order fulfillment, and last-mile delivery. The synergy between UKHI’s deep tech innovation and DCGpac’s operational scale ensures rapid market penetration across India.

“We’re thrilled to partner with UKHI to bring truly sustainable packaging to the Indian market at scale,” said Suresh Bansal, Founder & CEO of DCGpac. “This collaboration strengthens our mission to advance circular packaging solutions that are affordable, high-performing, and planet-friendly.”

This partnership brings significant benefits to multiple market segments. For e-commerce and D2C brands, it offers timely access to reliable, eco-friendly packaging materials through a trusted distribution channel—helping reduce plastic usage by up to 90%. FMCG and retail companies benefit from lightweight, regulation-compliant solutions that align with global sustainability norms and reduce packaging costs. Each ton of EcoGran™ prevents around three tons of agricultural waste from being burned, significantly cutting CO₂ emissions. Moreover, businesses can now meet CSR mandates and government sustainability standards while improving operational efficiency.

With DCGpac having served over 60,000 customers and delivered more than 750 million packaging products, and UKHI’s technology ready for scale, the partnership sets the stage for a nationwide shift toward bio-based, circular packaging. It democratizes access to sustainable alternatives, enabling even MSMEs to adopt next-gen packaging without the high cost or logistical complexities.