Kumbhi Kagaz

About Kumbhi Kagaz

Kumbhi Kagaz is an Assam-based initiative manufacturing chemical-free, handmade paper products from water hyacinth — an invasive aquatic plant that chokes wetlands across Northeast India. Founded by Rupankar Bhattacharjee and Aniket Dhar, the brand transforms a persistent environmental problem into a sustainable livelihood, producing journals, notebooks, calendars, and sculptures that carry both ecological intent and artisanal craftsmanship.

The name reflects their roots: Kumbhi is the Assamese name for water hyacinth. By placing the material at the centre of their identity, the founders signal that this is not just a product — it is a statement about how invasive species can be turned from environmental liabilities into sustainable resources.

Water Hyacinth: From Invasive Weed to Sustainable Resource

Water hyacinth spreads rapidly across ponds, rivers, and wetlands, blocking sunlight and depleting oxygen, driving out native aquatic life and degrading the ecosystems that communities depend on. Conventional removal methods use heavy machinery that damages the wetland bed. Kumbhi Kagaz works differently — partnering with local farmers to hand-harvest the plant, a process that removes the weed without causing additional ecological harm while creating a paid activity for rural communities.

The harvested water hyacinth is processed using a fully chemical-free method, converting plant matter into pulp and then into paper. The result is 100% natural paper that carries the organic texture and character of its raw material.

Products: Journals, Calendars, and Sculptures

Kumbhi Kagaz produces handmade journals and notebooks from 100% water hyacinth pulp, featuring collections inspired by Assam's landscape and wildlife. The Sachitra series draws on the region's natural heritage — hornbills, rhinos, tigers, and wetland species — bringing the ecology of Assam into every page. Calendars and limited-edition prints extend the range into gifting territory, offering products that are both functional and meaningful.

The brand was featured on Mann Ki Baat, the Prime Minister's national radio address, an acknowledgment of the scale of its environmental and social contribution to wetland conservation in the Northeast.

Community and Environmental Impact

By partnering with farmers for hand-harvesting, Kumbhi Kagaz provides supplementary income to lakeside communities who would otherwise derive little benefit from managing the weed. The chemical-free production process protects both workers and the local water ecosystem from harmful industrial inputs. Each piece of paper sold represents a direct contribution to wetland health in Assam.

Kumbhi Kagaz operates as one of the pioneering commercial operations in India producing paper from water hyacinth at scale, demonstrating that alternative fibre sources can power viable eco-products businesses when anchored in local ecosystems and community partnerships.

Why Choose Water Hyacinth Paper

Conventional paper production depends on wood pulp, requiring extensive forest clearance and chemical bleaching to convert timber into usable fibre. Water hyacinth requires no cultivation — it is an invasive plant that grows without human input, colonising wetlands at rates that actively damage the ecosystems it spreads through. Harvesting it removes an ecological problem. Processing it into paper requires no chemical bleaching and comparatively low energy inputs.

The resulting paper carries a natural, slightly textured character that sets it apart from mass-produced office stock. Buyers receive a product with a traceable provenance: harvested from a wetland in Assam, processed without chemicals, made by hand. For stationery, journals, and gifting products, this authenticity adds genuine value — both for the buyer who wants to align purchases with their values, and for the wetland that benefits directly from every ream of hyacinth removed. Kumbhi Kagaz makes this connection clear and consistent in everything it produces.

Based in Assam

Kumbhi Kagaz is based in the Goalpara district of Assam and was recognised among the top six sustainability startups from Northeast India through the Prakriti Incubation Launchpad programme. For buyers seeking stationery, journals, or gifts that carry a genuine environmental story, Kumbhi Kagaz offers products that are as purposeful as they are beautiful.