“In the future, everyone will be looking for hands-free options. If you use a bottle of hand sanitiser, and then somebody else touches its nozzle, then there is a possibility of cross-contamination. Since we are taking measures to avoid cross-contamination, it is important to ensure that hands remain clean and hygienic. This thought led us to develop a handsfree sanitation station with plastic waste,” says Pradyumna.

The duo also runs a company called Samsara - The Recycle Company that makes products out of discarded plastics. “We made a prototype last week and will be manufacturing the same in the coming days depending on how the market responds to this. Since it is lockdown, we developed it with different materials from our stock. The vertical supports are made from a material called polypropylene (PP) which is used to make takeaway containers, the base is made from high-density polyethylene (HDPE) that is used in the production of plastic bottles, the material which holds the sanitiser is made from polystyrene (PS) that is used to make CD cases. We had a stock of all these plastic wastes,” he adds.

The youngster also explains the function of the station. “There is a pedal at the base of the stand. It is connected to the top part by a metal wire. So, when you press the pedal, it automatically presses the nozzle of the bottle. This prevents any chance of cross-contamination,” remarks Pradyumna.