The Scent of Sustainability: Karan Rastogi's 'Flowercycling' Startup Turning Temple Waste into a Circular Economy.

The scent of marigold and jasmine often fades within hours at Indian temples, but for entrepreneur Karan Rastogi it offered a spark for a fresh business idea that connects culture with sustainability. His flowercycling startup has turned discarded temple waste into incense sticks, compost and lifestyle products that appeal to conscious consumers across India. What began as a small trial with a few kilos of flowers slowly grew into a meaningful example of how Indian startups are shaping a circular economy while creating new opportunities for jobs and green growth.

Temple waste has long been a significant environmental issue. Cities collect tonnes of flowers every day and most of it gets dumped into rivers or landfills where it rots quickly. Rastogi noticed this during one of his early morning visits and felt there had to be a better way to handle something that carries so much spiritual value. He started by collecting flowers from nearby temples with the help of a small team, sorting them by hand and experimenting with natural drying methods. The goal was simple but ambitious. Turn waste into something useful while creating a clean business model around traditional Indian habits.

As demand grew, his brand started expanding into incense products that were made completely from recycled temple flowers. People loved the idea because it blended Indian heritage with eco friendly living. It also made space for local artisans, especially women from low income communities, who found steady work in cleaning, drying and shaping the final products. This playbook of social impact mixed with entrepreneurship helped the brand stand out in the wider Indian business space where sustainability has become an important anchor for growth.

The startup now works closely with temples across different cities, setting up regular collection points and training staff to keep the flowers separate from other waste. This small step improved product quality and brought more trust from partner temples. Over time, Rastogi’s team experimented with natural colors, compost blends and biodegradable packaging that attracted attention from retail stores, wellness brands and online shoppers who search for unique Indian products. The company also began offering workshops for students who want to understand how circular economy models can reshape small scale industries in India.

Rastogi often says that entrepreneurship is not only about building revenue but about spotting hidden value in everyday life. His journey shows how creative thinking and grounded leadership can push an idea from a neighbourhood experiment to a growing business that inspires other founders. The rise of his flowercycling brand reflects a bigger shift in India where young entrepreneurs are searching for ways to merge sustainability with profit. Each product carries a small story of faith, culture and smart reuse, and that story is what keeps customers returning.