This is where Rajiben learned how to upcycle plastic into different products. Her work received a lot of praise and she was invited to London for a workshop on plastic weaving.

In a blind school in Pune that taught weaving, Bhat learned the technicalities ... Each unit can produce close to Rs 2 crore in revenue and upcycle 2 lakh plastic bags every month,” he says.

So chemists are searching for ways to “upcycle” plastic into more valuable raw materials. Now, there’s a way to turn old plastic into surfactants, researchers report in the Aug. 10 Science.