India throws away an estimated several crore rakhis every year, most of them made from polyester thread, plastic beads, foil and glue — materials that cannot be recycled and will not break down. A plantable rakhi is the most eco friendly rakhi you can buy: after the festival, you sow it in soil and it grows. Browse the full eco friendly rakhi collection or our sustainable rakhi gift guide.
Raksha Bandhan 2026 falls on Friday, 28 August. Here is everything you need to know about choosing a genuinely sustainable rakhi.
What Makes a Rakhi Eco-Friendly?
Look for these, in rough order of impact:
- Seed paper — handmade paper embedded with basil, marigold or herb seeds. Plant it after the festival.
- Natural thread — cotton, jute or silk-cotton instead of polyester or nylon.
- No plastic embellishment — wood, brass, clay or seed beads rather than acrylic stones and foil.
- Natural dyes — vegetable and mineral colours rather than synthetic dye.
- Plastic-free packaging — paper or cloth pouches, no blister packs.
A rakhi that ticks all five is fully compostable or plantable. One that ticks three is still a large improvement on the standard market rakhi.
How a Plantable Seed-Paper Rakhi Works
The decorative disc is made from recycled cotton pulp with seeds pressed into it. After Raksha Bandhan:
- Soak the rakhi in water for a few hours.
- Place it flat in a pot with about 1 cm of soil on top.
- Water lightly every day and keep it in indirect sunlight.
- Sprouts usually appear within 1–3 weeks depending on the seed and the season. Late August is a good sowing window across most of India.
The Plantable Seed Paper Rakhi & Lumba Set (set of 4) at ₹450 comes with kumkum and chawal included, so you have everything for the thali in one box. Its paper is wood-free upcycled stock embedded with vegetable and wildflower seeds, and the rakhis themselves are braided from handspun cotton thread. The box holds:
- A plantable Rose Rakhi
- A matching Rose Lumba for the bhabhi
- A plantable green tag
- A kumkum pouch
- A chawal pouch
Every paper element in that set — tag included — can go into the soil once the festival is over.
Every Eco-Friendly Rakhi Available at EarthBased
Plantable & Lumba Sets
- Plantable Seed Paper Rakhi & Lumba Set with Kumkum & Chawal, set of 4 — ₹450
- The Good Route Lovebird Rakhi & Lumba Set — ₹500
- The Good Route Evil-Eye Rakhi & Lumba Set — ₹500
- The Good Route Lovebird Lumba — ₹300
A lumba is the rakhi tied to the bhabhi's bangle — a Rajasthani and Marwari tradition that has spread widely. Buying a rakhi-and-lumba set together saves a second order.
Single Rakhis
- Lovebird Rakhi — ₹260
- Bluebird Rakhi — ₹260
- Yin & Yang Rakhi — ₹250
- Swastika Rakhi — ₹250
Multi-Packs — For Families with Several Brothers
- The Good Route Multiple Rakhis, set of 3 — ₹700
- Eco Friendly Rakhi, pack of 3 — ₹360 (several designs available)
See the full Eco-Friendly Rakhis collection.
What to Do With a Rakhi After the Festival
Traditionally rakhis are kept for a year, immersed in water, or placed under a tree. With plastic rakhis, immersion is the worst option — it is straightforward water pollution. Better choices:
- Plantable rakhi: sow it, as above.
- Cotton or jute rakhi: compost it, or keep it in your puja space.
- Brass or wooden rakhi: these are durable enough to keep as a keepsake or reuse as a bracelet charm.
- Old plastic rakhis you already own: don't immerse them. Keep them as memory objects rather than sending them into a water body.
Sowing a seed-paper rakhi also makes a good shared activity — siblings can plant it together and watch what comes up over the following weeks.
Pairing Your Rakhi with a Gift
If you want the whole package to be plastic-free and vegan, see our 30 sustainable Rakhi gift ideas, or go straight to Eco-Friendly Gifting.
Order Deadlines
Raksha Bandhan is Friday, 28 August 2026. Delivery takes 3–5 working days pan-India — order by 21 August for metros, 18 August for smaller towns.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a plantable rakhi?
A plantable rakhi is made from seed paper — handmade recycled paper with flower, herb or vegetable seeds embedded in it. After Raksha Bandhan you soak it, cover it with a thin layer of soil, and water it daily; it sprouts within one to three weeks instead of becoming waste.
Are eco-friendly rakhis more expensive?
Slightly. Plastic rakhis sell for ₹50–₹150; handmade eco rakhis at EarthBased range from ₹250 to ₹700. The difference reflects handmade production and natural materials rather than mass moulding.
What is a lumba rakhi?
A lumba is a decorative rakhi tied to the bangle of the bhabhi (brother's wife), rather than to the wrist. It originated in Rajasthani and Marwari communities and is now widely observed across North and West India.
Can I immerse a rakhi in water after Raksha Bandhan?
Only if it is fully natural — cotton or seed paper. Plastic and foil rakhis should never be immersed, as they do not break down and contribute directly to water pollution. Plant a seed-paper rakhi instead.