Stories
Clean The World – How This Startup Is Recycling Soap From Hotels Over The World
Hotels across the world have toiletries like soap bars, toothbrushes, toothpaste and moisturizers which are available to be used by people who stay in their rooms. Travellers have become accustomed to this and it is now an industry standard adopted by hotels everywhere. However, these toiletries hardly see any use and are replaced every time a new guest moves into the room. Clean the World, a startup established in Florida, is aiming to divert this discarded soap away from landfills to recycling centers and provide it to communities which have no access to sanitation and soap in order to reduce mortality rates in children.
Beginnings
Clean the World was founded by Shawn Seipler and Paul Till in 2009. While staying at a hotel Shawn Seipler wondered what happens to the soap guests leave behind after they checkout. He learnt all the soap, along with the rest of toiletries, is disposed off into the garbage. He started thinking if he can find a way to prevent soap from ending up in a landfill. He then began Clean the World out of his garage. Shawn Seipler and his friends used potato peelers, meat grinders and cookers to recycle the soap. Shawn Seipler developed a way to recycle soap and sterilize it so they can be used again. After partnering with a few hotels, they outgrew the garage and moved into a bigger facility.
Working model
The process of recycling starts right from the hotels, where the housekeeping staff are trained about the collection and recycling process. They collect all the used soaps and bottles to deposit them into special bins. These bins are transported to recycling and distribution centers. The toiletries are sorted manually according to the product by the staff and volunteers before they begin the recycling process. The top layer of soap bars are scraped off and the bars are sterilised before they are ground up and put through a manufacturing line to be moulded into new bars. These are packed up and distributed to homeless shelters and to people across the world who need them.
Impact of Clean the World
Clean the World partnered with Hilton Hotels & Resorts, Marriott Hotels and Walt Disney World Hotels to recycle all the toiletries. Hilton Hotels partnered with Clean the World in 2019 and in the first seven months, donated two million pounds of toiletries, which contributed to seven million bars of soap across 127 countries. As of 2019, Clean the World is partnered with 8,000 hospitality outlets across the world and distributed 53 million bars of soap and 5 million hygiene kits.
Clean the World aims to reduce diseases like diarrhoea and pneumonia, which heavily affect children and can be prevented by something as simple as washing hands with soap. Clean the World is a startup dedicated to the mission of saving millions of lives across the world.
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Apple has unveiled the new MacBook Air with M5 chip, starting at $999 for 13-inch and $1,299 for 15-inch models. The MacBook Air M5 boasts a 2nm M5 chip with 12-core CPU, 18-core GPU, and 50 TOPS Neural Engine for seamless AI tasks like real-time translation and 8K editing. Up to 22 hours of battery life, Thunderbolt 5, and Wi-Fi 7 make it the ultimate ultraportable, now 10% thinner at 0.44 inches with fanless cooling.
Key MacBook Air M5 features include Liquid Retina XDR display (500 nits, nano-texture option), 12MP Center Stage camera, and six-speaker Spatial Audio. Colors like new Sky Blue join Midnight and Starlight. Pre-orders are live today, with macOS Sequoia 15.4 enhancing Apple Intelligence and iPhone Continuity for students, pros, and remote workers.
Why buy MacBook Air M5 now? It outpaces Snapdragon X Elite rivals with ecosystem magic and future-proof performance, eyeing top 2026 laptop sales. CEO Tim Cook calls it “more capable than ever.” Visit apple.com for M5 MacBook deals and specs.
Delhi NCR-based gaming startup Zupee has acquired Mumbai-based microdrama platform Vertical TV in a deal valued under INR 40 Cr. This move strengthens Zupee Studio, its short-video arm launched in September 2025, by integrating Vertical TV’s expertise in bite-sized dramas like romance and thrillers.
Facing challenges from India’s 2025 real-money gaming ban, Zupee valued at $1 Bn after raising $120 Mn has pivoted to non-gaming content, including recent layoffs of 40% of its workforce. The acquisition builds on its November 2025 purchase of Australian AI firm Nucanon for interactive storytelling, targeting its 200 Mn+ users with engaging, mobile-first formats.
This deal underscores the rising microdrama trend in India, helping Zupee diversify amid regulatory pressures and compete in the short-video space dominated by quick, shareable content for on-the-go audiences.
T.N. Seshan’s name stands tall in India’s history as the man who transformed the nation’s electoral system with extraordinary courage and integrity. Born in 1932 in Kerala, Seshan grew up with values of discipline, education, and service to the nation — virtues that shaped his illustrious journey. From his early brilliance at Madras Christian College to his advanced studies in public administration at Harvard University, Seshan’s path reflected rare determination and intellect. Joining the Indian Administrative Service in 1955, he built a reputation as a no‑nonsense officer committed to efficiency and honesty, serving in key roles such as Secretary of Defense and overseeing vital national programs.
As the Chief Election Commissioner of India in 1990, T.N. Seshan sparked a new era of electoral integrity. In a system once marred by corruption, violence, and malpractice, Seshan brought order, fear, and respect through his groundbreaking reforms. He introduced voter ID cards, imposed strict spending limits on campaigns, and insisted on transparency at every level of the election process. Despite criticism from political circles that labeled him dictatorial, his relentless pursuit of fairness empowered every citizen to vote fearlessly. Under his leadership, the Election Commission became a symbol of strength and integrity in Indian democracy.
Seshan’s passing in November 2019 marked the end of an era, but his message continues to resonate across generations. Leaders from every corner of the country mourned the loss of the man who restored faith in free and fair elections. His enduring legacy reminds us that true leadership lies not in wielding power, but in serving people with honesty, courage, and conviction. T.N. Seshan’s life remains a timeless inspiration a reminder that democracy thrives only when its citizens are vigilant, responsible, and fearless.
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