Close X
Wednesday, November 13, 2024
ADVT 
Interesting

Indian Company Makes Edible 100 Percent Biodegradable Plastic Bags

IANS, 17 Dec, 2016 03:16 PM
    In an effort to combat plastic pollution, Indian startup EnviGreen has come up with a combination of natural starch and vegetable oils that looks and feels just like plastic, but is 100 percent organic, biodegradable and eco-friendly. You can even dispose of such a "plastic" bag by eating it.
     
    EnviGreen founder Ashwath Hedge came up with the idea for these revolutionary bags after seeing people struggling to find alternatives to plastic bags, following bans imposed by several Indian cities.
     
    "People were concerned bout how they would carry products from the market now. Everyone cannot afford a bag worth Rs. 5 or Rs. 15 to carry a kilogram of sugar," he told The Better India. So the 25-year-old decided to work on something that would solve this problem while being environment-friendly.
     
    Hedge spent four years researching and experimenting with various materials, but one day he discovered a combination of 12 ingredients, including potato, tapioca, corn, natural starch, vegetable oil, banana, and flower oil, that looked and felt like plastic, but posed none of the environmental problems.
     
    The manufacturing process is obviously a closely-guarded secret, but the young entrepreneur did reveal that the raw materials are first converted into liquid form, and then taken through a six-stage process to create the bags.
     
     
    The cost of an EnviGreen bag is about 35% higher than that of a plastic bag, but the benefits of using the former are more than worth the extra cost.
     
    Once discarded, EnviGreen bags biodegrade naturally in less than 180 days, and if placed in water at room temperature, they dissolve in less than a day. For quick disposal, they can be placed in boiling water, and they dissolve in about 15 seconds.
     
    "We don't use any chemicals at all. Even the paint used for printing on the bags is natural and organic," Ashwath boasts. That not only means that users can discard them without hurting the environment, but also that animals can safely ingest them.
     
    In fact, EnviGreen "plastic" bags are edible, something that Hedge was more than happy to demonstrate in his interview with The Better India. He simply soaked a bag in water and gulped it down with a smile on his face.
     
    The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) has already approved EnviGreen bags for commercial use, but not before conducting a series of tests.
     
    They found that despite their appearance and texture, they contain no plastic, and don't share its hazardous properties. When burned, the innovative material does not melt, drip, or release any toxic fumes.
     
    EnviGreen has set up a factory in Bangalore, where it produces around 1,000 metric tonnes of eco-friendly "plastic" bags a month.
     
    That's not very much, considering that the city of Bangalore alone consumes over 30,000 metric tonnes of plastic bags every month, but Hedge claims that he wants to set up enough production facilities before they start distributing to individual customers and shop owners. They have however started supplying the bags to corporate retail chains like Metro and Reliance.
     
    Apart from protecting the environment, Ashwath Hedge also plans to use EnviGreen bags to support local farmers.
     
    "We had this unique idea of empowering farmers in rural Karnataka by sourcing all our raw materials from them," he said. "We are also planning to distribute seeds to help them produce the amount of materials required to make the bags."
     
    According to the Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, over 15,000 tonnes of plastic waste is generated in India every day, only 9,000 of which are collected and processed. Inventions like EnviGreen can help solve this problem, so let's hope it lives up to its potential.

    MORE Interesting ARTICLES

    Indian Man Captures 'Ghost' On Camera In Sharjah

    Indian Man Captures 'Ghost' On Camera In Sharjah
    Indian Namit Vyas, 33, had clicked about 50 photos with his DSLR camera during the off-roading trip last Friday. Later when checking the photos, he noticed something in one particular frame which was spooky,

    Indian Man Captures 'Ghost' On Camera In Sharjah

    Buddhi Diwali: In Parts Of Himachal, Diwali Celebrations Begin Now!

    Buddhi Diwali: In Parts Of Himachal, Diwali Celebrations Begin Now!
    Some believe the news of Lord Ram's return to Ayodhya reached late in these parts. Others say this is the time of the season when they stop cultivating their fields owing to the onset of harsh winter.

    Buddhi Diwali: In Parts Of Himachal, Diwali Celebrations Begin Now!

    Tiniest Asteroid Spotted by Indian-Origin Astronomer

    Tiniest Asteroid Spotted by Indian-Origin Astronomer
    Using data from four different telescopes, a team of astronomers led by an Indian-origin researcher has reported that an asteroid discovered last year is the tiniest known asteroid.

    Tiniest Asteroid Spotted by Indian-Origin Astronomer

    In A US Court, Khalistan Supporter Balwinder Singh Admits Conspiring To Launch Attacks In India

    In A US Court, Khalistan Supporter Balwinder Singh Admits Conspiring To Launch Attacks In India
    Balwinder Singh made the admission before Federal Judge Larry R. Hicks in Reno, Nevada state, on Tuesday that he provided a co-conspirator with night vision goggles for the planned attack as a part of their terrorist conspiracy.

    In A US Court, Khalistan Supporter Balwinder Singh Admits Conspiring To Launch Attacks In India

    Filipino-Indian Beauty Queen Maria Venus Raj In Abu Dhabi: How To Be A Top Beauty Queen

    Filipino-Indian Beauty Queen Maria Venus Raj In Abu Dhabi: How To Be A Top Beauty Queen
    Filipino-Indian beauty queen and Miss Universe 2010 fourth runner-up Maria Venus Raj is visiting the UAE to conduct modelling workshops in Abu Dhabi, said a media report.

    Filipino-Indian Beauty Queen Maria Venus Raj In Abu Dhabi: How To Be A Top Beauty Queen

    Gem-Studded Victoria's Secret Show Prepares To Rock Paris

    Gem-Studded Victoria's Secret Show Prepares To Rock Paris
    Among the anticipated highlights: performances by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars, as well as a $3 million Fantasy bra modelled by Jasmine Tookes. Here's a backstage preview:

    Gem-Studded Victoria's Secret Show Prepares To Rock Paris