How a beach cleanup in Sri Lanka sparked a sustainable luxury revolution.
It was during a sea cleaning project along the beautiful shores of Sri Lanka that our founder, Rusiru Basnayake, first witnessed the devastating impact of ocean plastic pollution on his homeland's pristine coastline.
Volunteering alongside his close friends Maneesha, Devli, and Thilina, Rusiru was confronted by the heartbreaking sight of plastic waste destroying the very beaches he had grown up loving. This moment would plant the seed for what would later become Berunder.
"I realized that we couldn't just clean the beaches," Rusiru reflects. "We needed to transform this waste into something valuable, something that would prevent it from returning to our oceans while creating economic opportunities."
Years later, after moving to Austria to pursue his studies in Innovation and Entrepreneurship, those memories and experiences would crystallize into the vision for Berunder - proving that luxury and sustainability can create positive change together.
Rusiru Basnayake
Founder
"To transform the ocean plastic crisis into an opportunity for luxury, beauty, and positive environmental impact."
Every Berunder bag represents our commitment to turning environmental challenges into elegant solutions that benefit both our planet and the communities we work with.
Rusiru's encounter with ocean plastic waste during a volunteer sea cleaning project in Sri Lanka alongside his friends Maneesha, Devli, and Thilina. This experience revealed the urgent need for innovative solutions to ocean pollution.
Moving to Austria for studies, Rusiru pursued Innovation and Entrepreneurship, where his thoughts about creating meaningful environmental impact through business crystallized into a concrete vision.
The beginning of intensive product development phase, establishing collaborations with suppliers and developing the proprietary process for transforming ocean plastic into luxury materials.
Applied to Greentech Summer accelerator program and received approval, validating our sustainable innovation approach and providing crucial support for scaling our impact.
The planned official launch of Berunder, bringing our vision of sustainable luxury to the world. Our journey from Sri Lankan beaches to Austrian innovation culminates in making a global impact.
Every decision we make is guided by our commitment to healing our oceans and creating positive environmental impact.
We believe sustainability should never come at the expense of beauty, durability, or craftsmanship. Excellence is our standard.
We partner with coastal communities, supporting local economies while addressing the global plastic crisis together.
Founder
Innovation and Entrepreneurship student in Austria, passionate environmental advocate who transformed his beach cleanup experience into a sustainable business vision.
Co-Founder
Environmental advocate and founding team member who participated in the original beach cleanup project that inspired Berunder's mission.
Co-Founder
Sustainability specialist and founding team member committed to transforming ocean waste into opportunities for positive environmental impact.
Co-Founder
Innovation strategist and founding team member who helps develop the technical processes that transform ocean plastic into luxury materials.
From the beaches of Sri Lanka to the innovation labs of Austria, we're creating a global movement. Every bag tells a story of transformation, hope, and positive change.