From farmers’ fields to our daily lives: How Parali is weaving a sustainable future

Every autumn, as rice fields across northern India are harvested, a familiar haze settles over the region. This is the season of parali burning when millions of tonnes of rice stubble—the by-product of paddy cultivation—is set alight to clear the land for the next crop. The resulting smog casts a literal and figurative shadow over India’s agricultural heartland. But where many see waste and environmental peril, a new movement sees potential.

The Parali Project, an initiative led by our team, is transforming this humble agricultural residue into something extraordinary: handmade products for daily use that champion sustainability and craftsmanship. By turning parali from a source of pollution into a resource for creation, the project offers a radical reimagining of waste—one that bridges tradition, innovation, and purpose.

Rethinking waste: The Parali paradox

Parali—the fibrous stalks left behind after rice grains are harvested—has long been a problem in the world’s largest rice-producing regions. Lightweight yet bulky, it is challenging to store or transport. Burning it remains the cheapest and fastest method for farmers to prepare their fields for the next planting season. The ripple effects are undeniable: increased pollution resulting in health crises and massive economic loss.

The Parali Project offers a compelling alternative. By collaborating with rural women’s Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in Jind, Haryana, this initiative empowers communities to transform parali into artisanal products. The result? A win-win: environmental preservation and socio-economic upliftment.

However, scaling such an initiative comes with challenges. The bulky nature of parali makes transportation costly, and ensuring a consistent product requires significant training for artisans. Overcoming these logistical hurdles will be key to maintaining the project’s long-term sustainability.

From smoke to craft: The art of transformation

The magic begins in the hands of the artisans. Using age-old techniques like braiding, weaving, and rope-making, they transform parali into functional and beautiful products. The rustic texture of the material, once a source of frustration for farmers, lends itself perfectly to the creation of baskets, coasters, and minimalist home decor.

One standout creation is a pen stand woven with hexagonal patterns, its design both understated and striking. Another is a rope made from parali’s leaf blades, its strength defying the fragile reputation of agricultural residue. These products are not merely objects; they are stories—of renewal, resilience, and reimagined possibilities.

Empowering communities, one strand at a time

Behind every woven basket and braided rope are the hands of women whose lives are being transformed. For many of these artisans, the Parali Project is more than a source of income. It’s a lifeline. The initiative provides training, raw materials, and market access, ensuring that these women can earn a dignified livelihood while contributing to a larger environmental mission.

The transformation of parali mirrors the journey of another humble material: Sabai grass. Traditionally seen as a low-value resource in Odisha and West Bengal, Sabai grass has undergone a remarkable revival, thanks to targeted interventions. Artisans were trained in techniques like weaving and rope-making, and with support from organizations and government initiatives, they gained access to markets for their products, including baskets, rugs, and eco-friendly packaging. The impact on livelihoods has been profound. Studies show that artisan incomes in regions working with Sabai grass have increased by up to 40%, lifting families out of poverty while preserving traditional crafts. The success of Sabai grass demonstrates how investments in training, raw material access, and market linkages can turn a neglected resource into an economic and cultural asset.

Sustainability with a soul

By repurposing parali, the project reduces the volume of agricultural waste burned in fields, mitigating air pollution and improving soil health. The products themselves are entirely biodegradable, making them a sustainable alternative to plastic and synthetic materials that flood the market.

In addition to its direct impact on waste reduction, the project’s interventions have had a significant broader effect. The projected impact of these efforts has prevented the emission of around 250 million kilograms of carcinogenic greenhouse gases (GHGs) and saved INR 720 lakhs on the nutrient content of rice residue. This has led to an overall cost reduction of about 20 per cent for farmers using alternatives like the Happy Seeder and Super Seeder. In Haryana, the ongoing project has reached over 30,000 farmers in districts such as Jind, Sonipat, Fatehabad, and Hisar, encouraging sustainable agricultural practices through proactive community engagement. Village and district-level meetings, as well as farmer gatherings, have helped foster a behavioural shift, with 85-90 per cent of farmers refraining from burning crop residue across more than 2,00,000 acres of farmland.

But the true beauty of the Parali Project lies in its ripple effect. It’s not just about clean air or ethical consumerism—it’s about fostering a deeper connection between people and the planet. When consumers purchase a parali-based product, they aren’t just buying an object. They are participating in a story of regeneration, supporting livelihoods, and making a tangible commitment to sustainability.

Beyond the fields: A Vvision for the future

The potential of parali extends far beyond home decor. With ongoing research and innovation, we envision its use in biodegradable packaging, bioenergy production, and even sustainable textiles. Early prototypes for biodegradable packaging are already being tested, showcasing parali’s versatility and potential to replace plastic in everyday applications. Similarly, research into bioenergy production using parali as a feedstock is yielding promising results, with small-scale projects demonstrating its viability as a renewable energy source.

Scaling these efforts will require overcoming logistical challenges such as transportation and processing costs. However, the project remains focused on building a solid foundation that merges traditional crafts with modern sustainability efforts.

The success stories of other regions are instructive. In the Philippines, rice husk is used as a sustainable building material, while in Colombia, rice byproducts are being explored for bioenergy applications. These global examples offer a roadmap for how parali might be scaled in India, turning what was once a pollutant into a valuable resource.

A brighter, cleaner future

The Parali Project exemplifies how, with a mix of innovation, creativity, and community empowerment, we can address pressing environmental issues while uplifting rural populations. As we continue to seek alternatives to harmful practices like agricultural residue burning, this project is a compelling reminder that even the most overlooked materials can become the foundation for a sustainable future.

Bahuguna is Co-Founder and Soni is Product Design Specialist, Roots Foundation