Researchers from the Textile Chemistry Department at Maharaja Sayajirao University (MSU) have won a silver medal at a national handloom hackathon organised jointly by IIT Delhi and the Union Ministry of Textiles.
The team developed an eco-friendly, thermal-insulated bottle cover and carrying bag using processed coconut husk coir fibre and discarded handloom waste. The innovative product is designed to help maintain the temperature of liquids while promoting the reuse of natural and waste materials.
Student researchers Nikita Sonaiya, Chhabishri Meher and Shubham Meher carried out the project under the guidance of faculty members Dr Keval Umrigar, Riddhi Panchal and Ankita Upadhyay.
Sustainable Innovation Recognised Nationally
According to faculty supervisor Riddhi Panchal, the team used specialised processing techniques to convert raw coconut husk into material suitable for the insulated cover.
The innovation was showcased at the Handloom Hackathon held at the IIT Delhi campus. Around 100 college teams from across India participated in the competition. After an initial selection of 40 teams, 10 finalists competed in four specialised categories.
The MSU team secured the silver medal, earning national recognition for its sustainable product and student-led research.