Bengaluru-based Professor Saji Varghese based a startup referred to as Sunbird Straws, which sells eco-friendly straws produced from coconut leaves. Thus far, the corporate has bought over 20 million items international.
Closing July, India banned single-use plastic pieces corresponding to plastic straws, plates, knives, and cutlery. However a lot prior to the ban, this Bengaluru-based startup Sunbird Straws has been doing its bit to curb plastic air pollution with its distinctive innovation.
Saji Varghese, an affiliate professor at Christ College Bengaluru, makes straws from coconut leaves. The theory to make such straws got here to him when he spotted a number of dry coconut leaves mendacity at the campus floor.
“Every yr a coconut tree naturally loses as much as six of its leaves. Those leaves are merely burnt because of the trouble of their disposal. So in 2017, I determined to create an eco-friendly product the usage of coconut leaves,” says the 51-year-old.
In simply two years, he evolved distinctive coconut leaf straws. As in step with Saji, just about 200 straws may also be produced from one fallen coconut entrance.
Created the usage of a chemical-free procedure, the patented multi-layered straw has herbal anti-fungal and hydrophobic outer and internal partitions. Those are 100% biodegradable and can be utilized in any drink for as much as 3 hours. Every straw is priced at Rs 5.
Saji claims to have won orders for greater than 20 million straws from over 10 international locations and has been honoured globally. He additionally employs 100 rural girls from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka to supply the consuming straws.
Watch how Saji makes straws from coconut leaves on this video:
Edited by way of Pranita Bhat