Read full article by Gopi Karelia@The Better India Photo Credit: The Better India
EdiblePRO products are made from millets, grains, pulses and spices that are directly sourced from local farmers. This makes their cutlery rich in fibre and protein.
All of us have licked our halwa bowls, ice cream-covered spoons and even plates at some point. Since it is considered a bad table etiquette to lick our cutlery, we have been rightly reprimanded as well.
But what if there was a way to gulp down your cutlery after finishing a particularly delicious meal?
Imagine eating your favourite chocolate ice cream with a spoon in a bowl that is made entirely from chocolate. Or simply relishing the spicy-flavoured crunchy spoon after drinking the mouth-watering bonda soup.
Sounds too good to be true, no?
Turning this desire into reality is Bengaluru-based startup, ‘Gajamukha Foods’. They manufacture eco-friendly, zero-waste edible cutlery under the brand name, EdiblePRO.
Who would have thought that a plate could be a sweet dish by itself!
Developed as a sustainable alternative to single-use plastic tableware like spoons, cups, bowls, EdiblePRO products are nutritious that can be eaten or disposed of in a compost pit. It will take a week for them to biodegrade, as opposed to plastic which takes nearly 500 years.
The startup, founded by Shaila Gurudutt and Lakshmi Bheemachar, offers more than 80 variants in terms of designs, flavours, colours, and textures at affordable rates.
It was a shared passion for the environment that drove ex-IBM employees, Shaila and Lakshmi to quit their jobs and launch the venture in 2018.
“We are all aware of the damage single-use plastic cutlery items can cause to the environment and water bodies. Plastics last for hundreds of years that can affect your health in more ways than one. Being an eco-conscious person, I always wanted to introduce eco-friendly alternatives in the food industry. EdiblePRO is our way to reduce plastic usage,” Shaila tells The Better India.
Lakshmi echoes her partner’s sentiments, “After working for nearly 28 years in a 9-5 job, I wanted to make a difference to society. We have all taken environmental resources for granted, and it is high time we give back. With that intention, I joined Shaila.”
The bootstrapped startup had humble beginnings. The founders spent nearly a year on research and development. They were guided and supported by the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) – DFRL
