Manu Karki was in Taiwan where she discovered her friends leading a zero-waste lifestyle. When she returned home, she too decided to adopt an environmentally sustainable way of living.

“I was inspired by how my friends gave thought to their every step so as not to harm the environment,” she shares, "they were all about minimizing damage to the environment.”

Karki, who is a dentist by profession, wanted to document her journey of eco-conscious lifestyle on her social media and share it with others. But she was surprised when she found out there weren’t many places to shop for eco-friendly products in Nepal.

“I searched on the internet until I finally found a place that sold bamboo toothbrushes. I received my package after a month, and quite ironically, it was wrapped in plastic bubble wrap,” she says. 

How can one be expected to lead an eco-conscious life when you can’t easily find sustainable products in the market Karki thought at the time. That was when she came up with the idea of Eco Sathi Nepal, an online platform selling environmentally-friendly products. 

Karki already had a job as a dentist, but she wanted to do something that contributed to the environment. She started researching the market for eco-friendly products and branding. 

She found a clear gap in the market. The year was 2019 and there weren’t many brands that sold eco-friendly products. The existing ones weren’t a hundred percent sustainable, nor were they easily available.

Karki launched Eco Sathi Nepal as a lifestyle brand that offers eco-friendly alternatives to everyday products, from bamboo toothbrushes, hair combs, and hairbrushes, to tote bags. While making plastic-free options easily available, affordable, and easily accessible, the company also spreads knowledge and awareness about how one can live a zero-waste lifestyle. 

The company sells its products through its website and Instagram page. 

“Our lifestyle is destroying the environment. While we are fortunate enough to see the beauty of nature, our children may not be that fortunate,” Karki says. 

She wants others to realize the importance of eco-conscious living. 

Eco Sathi Nepal is committed to supporting locally-made products and working with local vendors. But some of the products have to be imported. For instance, bamboo toothbrushes and hairbrushes are imported, as they are not manufactured within the country. 

“We wanted bamboo specifically, as they are wonderful sustainable options. They don’t take too long to grow and the use of bamboo products also helps the forest,” says Karki.

The company researches and reviews the products before putting them out for sale to maintain quality. For instance, Karki, as a dentist, knows the specifications of a good toothbrush. She says the toothbrushes sold by her company are also approved by other dentists. 

“Yes, it takes time to approve a new product, but we don’t want to compromise on the quality,” says Karki. “We also make sure that the products are affordable to an average Nepali.”

Eco Sathi was never started with the intention of profit-making. Karki already had a full-time job as a dentist. For her, she says, there was no need to start a business to make money.

“This is my passion project, to fill the need of the people for a sustainable future,” she says. 

The main goal of the company is to build a platform for all Nepalis who choose and are encouraging others to choose plastic-free alternatives in their homes. 

“If one person buys a bamboo toothbrush, then at least four of their family members will see and want to switch as well,” Karki says. 

Eco Sathi Nepal also supports other brands that are taking a step to protect the environment. 

“Watching people choose eco-friendly alternatives is our biggest achievement,” says Karki. “Some of our customers share suggestions of how we can upscale our products. It shows that there are people who are taking the step to decrease the harm to nature.”

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ecosathi_nepal/