Prashant Lingam
About
Prashant Lingam is an award-winning social entrepreneur from India, renowned for his innovative use of bamboo and plastic waste in sustainable housing and infrastructure. Prashant, along with his wife Aruna Kappagantula, co-founded Bamboo House India in 2007, a social enterprise aimed at promoting bamboo products crafted by tribal artisans. With over 15 years of experience in social business, Prashant has specialized in building low-cost shelters using bamboo, agricultural, and plastic waste, providing enhanced livelihood opportunities to rural and tribal communities, as well as waste pickers.
A postgraduate in Urban Environmental Management & Law, Prashant's journey began with a quest for eco-friendly furniture, leading him to discover the potential of bamboo and the struggles faced by bamboo communities. This motivated him to establish Bamboo House India, which has since constructed over 300 bamboo houses and developed a robust social business model around bamboo housing.
His innovation extends to the creation of low-cost recycled plastic shelters, having built more than 100 such shelters, laid 10,000 square feet of recycled plastic tiles, and installed 5000 recycled plastic dustbins, effectively circulating 10,000 tonnes of plastic waste.
Notably, Prashant has also developed low-cost shelters using agricultural waste, thereby curbing pollution caused by stubble burning and generating revenue for farmers.
His innovative use of scrap materials for furniture and his dedication to developing green micro-entrepreneurship highlight his commitment to sustainability and social responsibility.
Awards and accomplishments
Awards and accomplishments
Prashant’s work has garnered global recognition, with features in over 1500 international media platforms, including Brut, Entrepreneur, BBC, and the World Economic Forum.
His social business models are studied by prestigious institutions like Harvard, Cornell, and ISB. The US Consulate featured his work in a video, and he has received invitations from the governments of Kenya and the United States, recognizing the transformative impact of his initiatives.
Prashant’s contributions have earned him numerous accolades, including the Green Entrepreneur of the Year Award, Pride of Telangana Award, Social Entrepreneur of The Year Award, and Innovation in Plastics Award.
Why Prashant Lingam?
Prashant’s social entrepreneurship is not just a career but a way of life, driven by a deep commitment to societal impact. Through his work, Prashant continues to inspire and pave the way for sustainable innovation and social change.
