Sahar Mansoor’s “accidental” zero-waste startup has saved over 68 million units of plastic, empowered countless women, and proven that sustainability can be beautiful.
In a quiet corner of Bengaluru, a garage once filled with dreams and experiments is now the birthplace of a national movement. What started as a personal journey to live more sustainably has grown into Bare Necessities, a full-fledged eco-conscious brand that’s not only redefining skincare but also rewriting the playbook on waste, work, and womanhood in India.
At the helm is Sahar Mansoor, a self-proclaimed “accidental entrepreneur” who followed her conscience back from global policy desks at WHO and the UN to the heart of India’s waste problem—only to build a solution with soul.
💡 The Spark: From Geneva Boardrooms to Bengaluru’s Back Alleys
Born and raised in Bengaluru, Sahar always had a soft spot for the planet. As a child, she was the one separating recyclables while others played. But it wasn’t until a life-changing experience shadowing waste pickers during her time at SELCO Foundation that she truly understood the human cost of India’s waste crisis.
“People were sorting soiled sanitary pads and syringes with their bare hands. I didn’t want to be part of the problem anymore,” Sahar recalls.
She turned to her roots for answers—literally. With the help of her grandmother’s traditional knowledge, she began experimenting with zero-waste personal care formulas. By 2016, Bare Necessities was born—out of a garage, some borrowed tools, and a big vision.
🧼 What Makes Bare Necessities More Than Just Another Skincare Brand?
Bare Necessities isn’t just about pretty soaps or eco-packaging. It’s about rethinking everyday consumption from the ground up. Every product is:
- Made from natural, non-toxic ingredients sourced ethically across India—from moringa to coconut oil.
- Packaged plastic-free, often in waterless formats to reduce shipping weight and waste.
- Designed with accessibility in mind (like tactile indicators on bamboo toothbrushes for the visually impaired).
- Manufactured by an all-women production team, many of whom are first-time earners.
And the numbers speak volumes:
- 🌍 68.8 million+ single-use plastics prevented from entering the environment
- 🚮 155,816+ kg of waste diverted from landfills
- 🧴 241,805+ products sold, all designed with zero-waste principles
👩🔬 Handmade, Heartmade: Innovation Inside the Lab
At their Bengaluru office, which doubles as an R&D hub and warehouse, the team handcrafts cold-processed soaps, moisturizers, and more using ingredients like lavender from Kashmir or cacao butter from Auroville. Each product is trialed in-house, tested for efficacy, and made in small batches to ensure quality and freshness.
Sahar is clear: “You don’t have to choose between luxury and sustainability. Our products are proof.”
👩👩👧 Empowering Women, Building Community
What makes Bare Necessities special isn’t just its products—it’s the people behind them. Many women on the team, like Saraniya, joined after years of domestic responsibilities or personal struggles.
“I never thought I’d get another chance,” shares Saraniya. “But this job made me feel like I mattered again.”
Others, like Veena Suryanarayan, who now leads marketing and communication, speak of the company’s deep impact on both their professional growth and personal values.
“I set up a composter at home after joining. Sustainability is no longer just work—it’s a way of life,” Veena says.
The sisterhood among the team is not just supportive but transformative, with peer-to-peer learning, financial education, and community-building at its core.
🛒 From Garage to Amazon—and Beyond
Today, Bare Necessities operates through both D2C (via their website, Amazon, and Flipkart) and B2B channels. They’ve also entered quick commerce platforms, making sustainable choices accessible in just a few clicks.
The customer base is equally loyal. From educators with sensitive skin to eco-conscious millennials, users rave about everything—from the soft scents and gentle formulations to the brand’s mission.
“I’ve had allergic reactions to most soaps. Bare Necessities helped my skin and changed the way I consume,” says Deepika Prabhakar, a long-time customer.
🤝 Beyond Sales: A Brand with Purpose
Bare Necessities partners with organisations like Hasiru Dala (supporting waste pickers) and Maruvan (focused on reforestation in Rajasthan). Customers are even encouraged to donate to these causes at checkout.
And it’s not just CSR. It’s built into the DNA.
- ✅ India’s first B Corp-certified FMCG brand
- ✅ PETA, ISO, Cosmetic GMP-certified
- ✅ Committed to UN Sustainable Development Goals
🌍 A Message That’s Bigger Than the Market
Sahar doesn’t sugarcoat it: this brand wasn’t part of her 5-year plan.
“It wasn’t planned. It was a response. I saw injustice and felt I had to act,” she says.
And act she did—creating not just products but a movement.
👣 Final Thoughts
Bare Necessities is a shining example of what’s possible when business meets intention. In an industry bloated with plastic and profit-first motives, it stands as a symbol of ethical entrepreneurship, powered by women, empathy, and everyday change.
For Sahar and her team, it’s more than skincare—it’s a call to action.
