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{{Short description|Indian academic and social entrepreneur}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{Orphan|date=September 2025}}
{{Excessive citations|date=September 2025}}
}}
{{Infobox academic
| name = Dr. Saji Varghese
| image = Dr. Saji Varghese.jpg
| caption = Varghese in 2025
| birth_place = [[Maharashtra]], [[India]]
| occupation = Academic, social entrepreneur
| known_for = Founder of Brown Reed Agri-Waste Innovations (Sunbird Straws)
| education = {{ubl |Mount Carmel Convent School, Chandrapur |[[Dr. Ambedkar College, Nagpur]]}}
| alma_mater = [[Nagpur University]], [[Doctor of Philosophy|PhD]]
| discipline = [[English studies]]
| workplaces = [[Christ University]], [[Bengaluru]]
}}

'''Saji Kurungatil Varghese''' is an Indian academic and social entrepreneur. He is an [[Associate professor|Associate Professor]] of [[English language|English]] at [[Christ University]], [[Bengaluru]], and the founder of Sunbird Straws, a Bengaluru-based startup that makes biodegradable drinking straws and pens using naturally dried, fallen coconut leaves.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Brown Reed Agri Waste Innovations |url=https://millercenterglobal.org/entrepreneur/brown-reed-agri-waste-innovations/ |access-date=2025-09-17 |website=Miller Center for Global Impact |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="forbesindia.com">{{Cite web |title=Meet the Bengaluru English prof whose innovation is replacing single-use plastic straws |url=https://www.forbesindia.com/audio/forbes-india-daily-tech-conver-sation/meet-the-bengaluru-english-prof-whose-innovation-is-replacing-singleuse-plastic-straws/77991 |access-date=2025-09-17 |website=www.forbesindia.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Menezes |first=Anisha |date=2020-10-29 |title=Now, take a sip using straws made of fallen coconut leaves |url=https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/now-take-a-sip-using-straws-made-of-fallen-coconut-leaves/article32971496.ece |access-date=2025-09-17 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

== Early life ==
Saji Kurungatil Varghese was born and raised in [[Nagpur division]], [[Maharashtra]]. He did his schooling from Mount Carmel Convent School, [[Chandrapur]], and holds an M.A. from [[Dr. Ambedkar College, Nagpur|Dr. Ambedkar College]], [[Nagpur]]. He earned his Ph.D. in English from [[Nagpur University]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |date=2025-05-25 |title=Dr. Saji Varghese on going beyond teaching to make a social impact |url=https://www.thehindu.com/education/dr-saji-varghese-on-going-beyond-teaching-to-make-a-social-impact/article69597208.ece |access-date=2025-09-16 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

== Career ==
Varghese started his career teaching English in Nagpur. He then moved to Bengaluru, where he joined Christ University; as of 2025, he has been teaching for over 25 years<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Consulting |first=CHRIST |date=2020-05-15 |title=An Interview with Dr Saji Varghese – the Creator of a Biodegradable Alternative for Plastic Straws |url=https://christconsulting355110641.wordpress.com/2020/05/15/post-1/ |access-date=2025-09-16 |website=CHRIST Consultancy |language=en}}</ref> and is currently an associate professor of English.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |last=Fathima |first=Iffath |date=2020-01-11 |title=Prof designs coconut leaf straws, bags orders from abroad |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bengaluru/2020/Jan/11/prof-designs-coconut-leaf-straws-bags-orders-from-abroad-2088052.html |access-date=2025-09-16 |website=The New Indian Express |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=2018-09-20 |title=Young student innovators from Bengaluru |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/spotlight/young-student-innovators-from-bengaluru/articleshow/65855901.cms?utm_source=chatgpt.com |access-date=2025-09-16 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref><ref name="forbesindia.com"/> He also leads the centre for Design and Innovation for Social Entrepreneurship (DAISE) at the university.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last=damz82 |date=2025-03-12 |title=Dr Saji Varghese - ASEAN Fintech Forum |url=https://asean-fintechforum.com/dr-saji-varghese/,%20https://asean-fintechforum.com/dr-saji-varghese/ |access-date=2025-09-16 |language=English}}</ref><ref name=":9">{{Cite web |title=Meet the Bengaluru Professor Who's Fighting Plastic Pollution with Coconut Leaves |url=https://cc.pacifyca.com/news/meet-the-bengaluru-professor-whos-fighting-plastic-pollution-with-coconut-leaves |access-date=2025-09-16 |website=Catholic Connect |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1" />

=== Sunbird Straws ===
In October 2017, during a walk on the Christ University campus grounds, Varghese came across a fallen coconut leaf. According to him, one of its leaflets was pointing upwards, appearing to be curled like a straw.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=V |first=Pavithra Krishnan |date=2023-09-23 |title=The tale of Sunbird |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/chennai/2023/Sep/23/the-tale-of-sunbird-2617356.html |access-date=2025-09-16 |website=The New Indian Express |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Adlakha |first=Nidhi |date=2025-06-27 |title=Bengaluru's Saji Varghese Makes 7 Lakh Eco-Friendly Coconut Straws Monthly |url=https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/bengaluru-saji-varghese-eco-friendly-coconut-straws-sunbird/article69700513.ece |access-date=2025-09-16 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref name=":10">{{Cite web |date=2024-06-29 |title=Unsung Heroes : From classroom to eco-innovation, how a student-professor duo are drivers of green change |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/bangalore/iimb-entreprenurship-straw-coconut-leaves-green-change-9422130/ |access-date=2025-09-16 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite news |date=2020-09-22 |title=English professor in Bengaluru innovates straw from coconut leaf, exports to 25 countries |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/english-prof-innovates-straw-from-coconut-leaf-exports-to-25-countries/articleshow/78223719.cms |access-date=2025-09-16 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref> After a closer look, he discovered that coconut leaves have their own epicuticular wax, making them water-resistant and antimycotic,<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":0" /> causing them to be perfect for straws.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=From Waste to Wonder: Dried Coconut Leaves Replace Millions of Plastic Straws, Empowering Rural Women in India |url=https://www.wipo.int/pressroom/en/stories/india-2023-sunbird.html |access-date=2025-09-16 |website=www.wipo.int |language=en}}</ref> Upon further inspection, he also found that the leaves could be softened without losing their structural integrity.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last1=Michael |first1=Maria |last2=Paul |first2=Ivin Roby |last3=Karakunnel |first3=Meljo Thomas |title=Sustaining the World, One Dry Leaf at a Time! |url=https://www.vaticannews.va/en/world/news/2022-12/sustaining-the-world-one-dry-leaf-at-a-time.html |access-date=September 16, 2025 |website=[[Vatican News]] |date=29 November 2022 }}</ref> In 2019, Varghese co-authored an article on the same in the ''Asian Journal of Plant Sciences''.[https://www.researchgate.net/publication/335993972_Drinking_Straw_from_Coconut_Leaf_A_Study_of_its_Epicuticular_Wax_Content_and_Phenol_Extrusion_Properties] This ultimately inspired the creation of Sunbird Straws, which he founded in 2020 alongside students Chirag MG and Sandeep U<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":14">{{Cite web |last=Raghuram |first=Aruna |title=English professor makes eco-friendly straws from coconut leaves; annual turnover at Rs 70 lakh |url=https://30stades.com/enterprise/english-professor-makes-ecofriendly-sunbird-straws-from-coconut-leaves-annual-turnover-at-rs-70-lakh-9630195 |access-date=2025-09-17 |website=30stades.com |language=en}}</ref> after two years of research and experimentation.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":14" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=No more plastic cutlery from July 1. What now? |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/india/karnataka/bengaluru/no-more-plastic-cutlery-from-july-1-what-now-1122785.html |access-date=2025-09-17 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}}</ref> In the same year,<ref name=":5" /> Varghese was granted a patent for his innovation.<ref>{{Cite patent|number=WO2020044369A1|title=Bio-degradable means with midrib for use as drinking straw, stirrer and chopstick and method thereof|gdate=2020-03-05|invent1=Varghese|inventor1-first=Saji|url=https://patents.google.com/patent/WO2020044369A1/en}}</ref><ref name=":11">{{Cite web |date=2020-09-22 |title=This College Professor Is Turning Discarded Coconut Leaves Into Biodegradable Straws |url=https://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/college-professor-turns-coconut-leaves-into-biodegradable-straws-523344.html |access-date=2025-09-16 |website=Indiatimes |language=en-IN}}</ref><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":6" />

The company aims to replace non-biodegradable, single-use plastic straws<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":12">{{Cite web |last=prakati |first=team |date=2020-07-14 |title=Prof. Saji Varghese creates Straws from Coconut leaves |url=https://prakati.in/prof-saji-varghese-creates-straws-from-coconut-leaves/ |access-date=2025-09-16 |website=Prakati India |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":8">{{Cite web |last=Gupta |first=Shivani |title=Professor Makes 100% Biodegradable Straws Using Coconut Leaves |url=https://thebetterindia.com/320826/bengaluru-professor-saji-varghese-makes-sunbird-straws-from-coconut-leaves-watch-video/ |access-date=2025-09-16 |website=thebetterindia.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Zachariah |first=Serene Sarah |title=Professor Makes Coconut Leaf Straws, Bags Orders Worth Rs 6 Crore |url=https://thebetterindia.com/232281/bengaluru-innovation-earns-crores-coconut-leaf-straw-plastic-alternative-sustainable-buy-online-inspiring-india-ser106/ |access-date=2025-09-17 |website=thebetterindia.com |language=en}}</ref> and reduce pollution and CO<sub>2</sub> emissions.<ref name=":0" /> It employs about 200 rural women<ref name=":13">{{Cite news |date=2025-06-10 |title=Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw applauds Bengaluru professor who turned leaf into a straw: Know how it's now a global hit |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/new-updates/kiran-mazumdar-shaw-applauds-bengaluru-professor-who-turned-leaf-into-a-straw-know-how-its-now-a-global-hit/articleshow/121748210.cms?from=mdr |access-date=2025-09-17 |work=The Economic Times |issn=0013-0389}}</ref><ref name=":10" /><ref name=":12" /> across coastal India, and makes around 700,000 straws a month.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":0" /> It was initially funded by Christ University, and incubated by [[Indian Institute of Management Bangalore|IIM Bangalore's]] incubation centre, NSRCEL.<ref name=":10" /><ref name=":7" /> Most leaves for the purpose are sourced from [[Karnataka]], [[Kerala]] and [[Tamil Nadu]], and the company has production centres in [[Kasaragod|Kasargod]] and [[Palakkad]] in Kerala, [[Thoothukudi]] in Tamil Nadu and [[Bannur]] in Karnataka.<ref name=":2" /> While the straw-making process initially was time- and labour-intensive, the company has now developed technologically advanced machines and conveyor systems to rapidly increase output, reduce costs, and increase profits.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":10" /> As of 2020, Sunbird Straws has exported to over 25 countries.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":11" />

== Awards and honours ==
In 2019, Varghese was invited to be a part of the [[President of India|President of India's]] business delegation to [[Philippines|the Philippines]].<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":9" /> He also won the Swadeshi Startup Award from the [[IIT Delhi|Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi]] in 2018.<ref name=":13" /><ref name=":5" /><ref name=":14" /> His startup was also the only Indian startup to be shortlisted for the Youth Ecopreneur Award in Mongolia in 2023.<ref name=":0" /> He is also a recipient of the Honey Bee Network Creativity and Inclusivity Award, and the Swiss Re Shine Entrepreneur Award.<ref name=":6" /><ref name=":13" />

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Varghese, Saji}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian people]]
[[Category:Indian social entrepreneurs]]
[[Category:People from Maharashtra]]

Saji Varghese - Revision history

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