Pulkit Jain
M C Chyavan
Manan Laddha
VIVEK KUMAR PATRO
Atif Hussain
Goa Institute of Management
Divya Singhal
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PLUSS is a materials research and manufacturing company involved in Phase Change Materials (PCMs) for thermal energy storage and specialty polymeric additives for enhancing polymer properties. The term Phase Change Materials is used to describe materials that use phase change (e.g. solidify, liquify, evaporate, or condense) to absorb or release large amounts of energy at constant temperatures. They leverage the natural property of latent heat to help maintain product and environment temperature for extended periods.
By leveraging polymers and phase change materials, Pluss aims to create products that are not only environmentally friendly but also address the growing need for sustainability. Incorporating these materials to provide solutions reflects their dedication to innovation and responsibility. They believe their efforts in developing sustainable and eco-friendly products will positively impact the world, fostering a future where materials contribute to a more sustainable and harmonious environment.
Below are the SDGs impacted by PLUSS Advanced Technologies:
SDG 3: Good Health and Wellbeing.
SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation.
SDG 9: Industry Innovation and Infrastructure.
SDG 14: Life Below Water.
The innovation of PLUSS is its commercialized first-of-its-kind temperature control solutions using proprietary materials, addressing unmet needs for temperature control across refrigeration, cold storage, cold-chain logistics, HVAC, and healthcare sectors.
Their phase change materials (PCM) serve multiple purposes, notably in storing heat and cold, leading to improved energy efficiency. Using PCMs in various applications, such as transporting medicines or maintaining stable temperatures in cold storage, aligns with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to health, innovation, infrastructure, and energy conservation.
Additionally, Pluss’s commitment to energy conservation, waste management, and preventing plastic pollution in oceans directly contributes to SDGs associated with clean water and sanitation (SDG 6) and life below water (SDG 14). Devices incorporating our PCMs, designed for infant treatment, exemplify their commitment to health-related SDGs (SDG 3), particularly in underserved communities. These polymers play a pivotal role in generating bio-capable compounds, such as wood plastic composites, fostering sustainable construction and robust infrastructure development, showing their commitment to SDG 9.
They have Products like MiraCradle, which use PCM technology to induce therapeutic hypothermia among newborns (infants) suffering from birth asyphxia. It has been developed by Pluss to be easy to use, safe, lightweight, and portable and remains at the precise temperature of 33-34℃ for 72 hours with minimal supervision and no requirement for electricity supply.
Pluss has established itself as a pioneer in pharmaceutical packaging, utilizing PCM technology to uphold temperature stability for vaccines effectively. They have provided the last-mile vaccine delivery at the right temperature, ensuring the quality and safety of vaccines and pharmaceutical products.
The inspiration for initiating this venture stemmed from a combination of factors. It began with a keen observation of unaddressed opportunities in India's market. Mr. Samit Jain the Managing Director of Pluss quotes “Realizing the potential for innovations, the founders decided to do something that was focused on developing additives, previously unavailable in India, that enhanced the mechanical properties of plastics, making them suitable for automotive parts, white goods and other industrial applications”.
Their vision expanded beyond automotive advancements. They envisioned a circular economy not just in material reuse but also in energy conservation. Their additives aimed not only to improve plastics but also to store and reuse waste heat or cold efficiently, drastically cutting down energy consumption in heating, cooling, and industrial processes. Furthermore, Pluss explored using unconventional materials like waste plastics for construction, aligning with both sustainability and infrastructure development goals. "Enabling growth in a sustainable way is our motto"
Ultimately, this initiative was rooted in the convergence of material innovation and infrastructure enhancement, seeking solutions that revolutionized products and contributed to energy efficiency and sustainable infrastructure development, thereby addressing critical societal and environmental needs.
The innovation mainly focuses on two key areas: polymers and phase change materials (PCMs), catering to sustainable solutions.
In the short term, their materials are already revolutionizing diverse sectors. For instance, polymers are being utilized to recycle plastics, creating sustainable building materials like wood plastic composites. Moreover, phase change materials aid in temperature control, particularly for transporting medicines and vaccines, ensuring accessibility and storage efficiency. This immediate application directly aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to innovation, health accessibility, and energy conservation.
In the long term, the company's vision encompasses enabling growth sustainably. Samit Jain, MD of PLUSS coined the term Plusstainability, where Pluss's goal is to be able to maintain the optimal rate or level to meet the needs of the present without compromising the needs of future generations. The innovation in materials, such as the PCM's ability to store and reuse heat, hints at significant energy savings and a reduced carbon footprint, contributing to a more sustainable world.
The innovation spearheaded by PLUSS has yielded multifaceted benefits for the business. PLUSS launched the “Celsure” range of pharmaceutical and vaccine transport boxes for temperature-controlled delivery. Companies like Doctor Reddy's Laboratory, Biocon, and Phenicia Biotech have utilized their materials to transport medicines and vaccines.
They also have PCM cold storage that helps them transport food in “Reefer Trucks”, keeping the food fresh and cold, helping their clients transport efficiently through cold chain logistics. Companies like More, Reliance Retail, Big Basket, and Ice Make have utilized their services to transport food items. Pluss Advanced Technologies and Shell have partnered to promote electric refrigeration enabled by phase change materials (PCMs) for refrigerated trucks, also known as Reefers. With the growing demand for reefers in India, Pluss envisages a future of diesel/fossil-fuel-free fleet of trucks.
The innovation of PCM helped PLUSS expand its global presence and footprint. In 2019, Pluss set up a 100% subsidiary, Pluss Advanced Technologies B.V., headquartered in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands. PLUSS ventured into European markets with a sales, marketing, and technical team. The company’s Promoter is Carborundum Universal Limited (CUMI) Murugappa Group.
The company's focus on a mission-driven approach to business aligns with the growing trend of socially responsible investing, making it an attractive option for investors who are keen on supporting businesses with a positive social impact.
The innovation of PCM has benefitted both society and the environment. The innovation of PCM has benefited society during COVID-19 in India when Pluss was able to make sure that the COVID-19 vaccine got into people's arms at the right temperature. They have Protected 3.5 million vaccines. Also, by providing cold chain logistics, Pluss has been able to save 3,000 tons of food from Perishing, thus benefitting the farmers of the country. Through Miracradle, they have been able to save 20,000+ newborns suffering from birth asphyxia globally.
"We are not an energy-intensive company", says Mr Samit shared. Regarding reducing their carbon footprint, PLUSS focuses on small but impactful actions, such as reducing packaging, promoting reusability, and creating a green environment within their premises. Additionally, their PCM solutions significantly reduce energy consumption by capturing and reusing waste heat, thus contributing to lowering the overall carbon footprint and benefitting the environment. Pluss has received several awards and recognitions, including the CII Innovation award twice, in 2014 and 2017. It has also received the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Innovators Under 35 awards in 2016 and 2017.
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Pluss Advanced Technologies was founded in 1994 with R&D and manufacturing of specialized polymers. The company today has a global presence with its subsidiary in the Netherlands. Since 2021, Pluss has been a subsidiary of Carborundum Universal Limited (CUMI), which is a Murugappa Group company.
