Turning Talent into Change-Makers: Upskilling for a Greener Tomorrow at Lucro

Sustainability is a way of working, thinking, and growing at Lucro. As we continue to build India's circular economy, our greatest investment is not just in technology or infrastructure, but in the people who power our mission. That's why upskilling is at the heart of our impact strategy — across every level of our organisation — especially within our Material Science, Recycling Divisions, and waste worker ecosystem.

Bridging the Skills Gap in the Circular Economy

The recycling and advanced material sectors are rapidly evolving. From understanding the complexities of polymer behaviour to designing closed-loop systems that minimize waste, the knowledge required is specialized and ever-changing. Most educational systems and traditional industries have yet to catch up — and that is where we step in.

When new talent joins our team — whether fresh graduates, experienced professionals, or frontline waste workers — we empower them through a robust upskilling program tailored to circular economy principles, advanced recycling technologies, sustainable material innovation, and inclusive practices that elevate the informal workforce.

At our Avkaar Kendras, waste-workers are trained on critical practices such as efficient material segregation and improving recovery rates from collected waste. By understanding the nuances of plastic types and their respective values, these workers play an essential role in improving material quality and reducing contamination.

Building Circular Champions

Our upskilling framework is designed to be immersive, collaborative, and deeply aligned with real-world impact. It includes:

• Hands-on Learning: Employees spend time on the shop floor and at partner facilities to understand material flows, recycling processes, and quality control from the ground up.
• Technical Training: We provide deep dives into polymer science, product lifecycle design, mechanical and chemical recycling, and innovations in recycled material applications.
• Expert-Led Learning: We regularly invite industry stalwarts, researchers, and professors from leading institutions to conduct workshops and training sessions. These experts guide our teams through specialized topics — from lab-based material testing to advancements in polymer chemistry and process optimization.
• Waste-Worker Upskilling: Waste-pickers — the backbone of India’s waste ecosystem — are trained not only in better segregation techniques but also in identifying high-value plastics. We work with them directly to increase recovery efficiency, promote digital payments, and enhance their livelihoods. Through partnerships and on-ground support, many are registered with local authorities, giving them access to government benefits and helping them earn extra per kilogram of waste collected.
• Impact Storytelling: Employees are trained to measure, communicate, and champion the positive impact of their work — helping customers and communities understand the true value of sustainability.

A Culture of Continuous Growth

What makes Lucro unique is our belief that upskilling is a continuous process. We encourage team members to contribute ideas, experiment with solutions, and collaborate across departments — because sustainability thrives where curiosity meets action.

Many of our team members who started with limited knowledge of recycling have now become in-house experts, leading innovation projects, speaking at sustainability forums, and co-creating circular products with global partners. Similarly, our waste-worker partners are seeing meaningful improvements in their quality of life, their earnings, and their standing within the communities they serve.

We’re proud to have created change-makers at every level. Every person who grows with us — from engineers to sorters, scientists to segregators — becomes an advocate for sustainability, spreading knowledge to peers, partners, and communities. This ripple effect is vital to solving India’s waste crisis and building a more resilient, inclusive, and circular future.

If you’re passionate about making an impact and learning every day, Lucro is the place where your skills can grow — and your work can truly matter.