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The Indian industrial city of Kanpur lies on the banks of the Ganges, one of the most polluted rivers in the world. In addition to numerous industrial plants, the city is home to many religious temples whose flower offerings are often treated with chemicals.This floral waste ends up in the river and contributes to further pollution.

As part of the Environmental Protection Export Initiative, GIZ has launched an innovative project in collaboration with the start-up Phool and the Kanpur city administration: The collected flower waste from temples is separated and processed into charcoal-free incense sticks.

This sustainable initiative not only reduces the environmental impact of the holy river, but also creates 300 jobs for women. It is the world's first project to convert temple flowers into incense sticks.

The pilot project is part of the GIZ program for organic waste management in India and was implemented on behalf of the BMUV Export Initiative for Environmental Protection.