When we speak about leading an Eco-friendly sustainable life we usually mean eating organic food and reducing the plastic in our grocery and other kinds of shopping. But there’s more to it than what meets the eye.
Charity begins at home goes the old proverb and in this case, sustainability begins in your kitchen. When we think of new age things we always think of smart things like smart kitchens and smart cities but never sustainable ones.
Today’s world needs sustainable solutions in all spheres of life that can reduce our carbon footprint and save the environment.
A zero-waste sustainable kitchen is one such solution. And here, sustainability isn’t just ditching the plastic bag and going for composting, it’s an all-inclusive investment in kitchen products.
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Building A Sustainable Kitchen
A sustainable kitchen starts with sustainable kitchenware made of long-lasting reusable products like ceramics, copper, stone, seaweed, glass, clay etc which are durable and don’t generate piles of plastic waste.
So here are some startups and brands that are showing the way in sustainable kitchenware.
It’s not just the tableware and disposable containers but everything from day-to-day utensils to storage jars to kitchen towels and tissue papers that need to be Eco-friendly.
1. Eco-friendly Trash Bags & Kitchen Towels from Beco
First in line is the Mumbai-based startup Beco which started its journey with an oath to reduce plastic waste from kitchens. Built by 4 engineers back in 2017 this Indian startup sells biodegradable trash bags, kitchen towels and tissue rolls.
Their products are made up of corn starch and bamboo pulp making it quite Eco-friendly. Moreover, their products come wrapped in recycled paper making it a win-win situation for all.
2. Sustainable Kitchenware from Code Sustain
Code Sustain is a Pune-based startup and a community-driven market venture which brings together the best works from pottery, ceramics and cooperate products.
Through their platform, a range of companies and craftsmen sell their ceramic pots and utensils including the famous ‘Manipuri’ long pi pottery products, copper products, and bamboo products.
You get a range of sustainable kitchenware here. From pots, pans, plates, jars, mugs, dinner sets, and casseroles to cutlery, everything is available here.
Also, they support child education and donate 10% of their profit to the education of underprivileged children.
3. Sustainable Kitchenware from the Indus Valley
Named after the oldest civilisation of India, Indus Valley works to highlight the use of age-old traditions and crafts that make sustainable cookware.
For this, the Mumbai-based Jagadeesh and Madhumitha Kumar launched the Indus Valley startup which sells natural kitchenware made from neem wood and terracotta.
They have all kinds of kitchenware products like jars, utensils, boxes, bottles, plates, bowls etc.
4. Terracotta Kitchenware from Mitti Cool
The Gujarat startup Mitti Cool celebrates the goodness of the earth and the skill of the terracotta craftsmen of our country bringing out a revolution in kitchenware.
They sell a range of terracotta products including plates, bottles, bowls, pots, cutlery and other utensils. However, their terracotta water coolers are the best as it’s the perfect solution to keep it cool during summer.
5. Sustainable Kitchenware from Zishta
Zishta showcases the diversity and skill of our country as it creates different ethnic kitchenware built by artisans from all over India.
This includes Tamil Nadu’s special Rasam Vessel, Kerala’s Handmade Urulis, River Grass Table Runners, Neem Wood cutlery from West Bengal and Copper Water Pots from Maharashtra among others.
Out of their many regional products, Manipur’s Iron Rich utensils are quite a hit among the customers along with Kansa products from Odisha.
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Reducing Plastic Waste from Takeaways
While these are a few of the many sustainable kitchenware startups in India, there are a few who ease the pressure of the industry by providing better options for the industry.
A new food delivery startup is on a crusade to make kitchens more sustainable with earthenware. So, in the days when you don’t feel like cooking and want to order a Biryani, you need not worry about the plastic waste from that.
Potful cooks delicious Biryani in earthen pots and supplies it along with the Biryani. So, when you are hungry you get to eat biryani and keep the earthenware for later use.
At present, they are only operating in Bangalore and Hyderabad but they are planning to expand to other cities as well.
You can use the clay utensils further or you can use them to plant your own kitchen garden. They also send coriander seeds along with the earthenware so that you can plant them and get fresh coriander.
That’s a classic example of having your cake and eating it too. This can’t get any better. Both your kitchen and your takeaway food are turning Eco-friendly and sustainable this way.
Other startups like the Ayodhya-based Eco-friendly sugarcane cutlery and disposable food containers are also making our food takeaways more sustainable.
Companies like EdiblePRO in Bangalore are making it all the more nourishing and worthwhile by providing edible cutlery options made from protein-rich plant sources like millet and pulses with spice.
All of these initiatives, throughout the length and breadth of the country, call for one thing – sustainability in our kitchens, both in the personal and in the commercial space.
These startups show how sustainable kitchenware can revive not just the environment but also our country’s rich culture and the artisans who make it possible.
When are you planning to try or switch to this smart and sustainable option?
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