This Bengaluru-based start-up makes biodegradable straws out of coconut leaves5 min read

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Summer is here, and along with it comes the desire to sip cold drinks, bottled juices, and coconut water!
But this also brings forth a problem. Can you guess what that is?
Here’s a little help—

Yes, we are talking about plastic straws!

Did you know that plastic straws are one of the leading causes for marine pollution? Around 8.3 billion units of these everyday pollutants are lying around the world’s beaches.

It is imperative to look for alternatives so our break from the summer sun does not harm the environment.

This is where Evlogia Eco Care comes in! This Bengaluru-based start-up makes 100% biodegradable straws out of fallen coconut leaves.

Its impact on the environment if two-fold. It eliminates dependency on plastic by offering a sturdy alternative. It also finds a way to manage waste like coconut leaves, thereby reducing air pollution.

Wait, how are coconut leaves connected to air pollution?
When waste is generated, its disposal surfaces as a problem. Waste like fallen leaves are often burnt, releasing Carbon Monoxide (CO) and Carbon Dioxide (CO₂).

How do CO and CO₂ effect the environment? Click on the image to tap into Owliver’s archive and
refresh your memory.

The company sources the raw material i.e. coconut leaves, from local farmers, and employs women from the farms to convert the leaves to straws.
In doing so, Evlogia Eco Care is not only taking care of the environment but also boosting local economy.

The Beginning

Evlogia Eco Care started in 2016 when its founder, Manigandan Kumarappan, quit his corporate job to combine his interest in science and sustainability.

Kumarappan. along with his wife, Radha approached women from self-help-groups to help realise their dream of creating a sustainable alternative for straws. They bootstrapped for the first six months to test out the product before seeking external funding to take their company to the next level.

I noticed that while buying coconut, the customers always demanded plastic straws. Here was a substantial problem- the plastic straws- that would lead to more plastic waste. And that’s how the idea of eco-friendly leafy straws, made out of coconut tree waste, was born.

Kumarappan, in an interview with The Tribal Box

As of today, they produce 10,000 leafy straws everyday!

BuzzWords

What is bootstrapping?
Bootstrapping refers to building a company from scratch using only personal savings.

What is funding?
Many people or companies invest tbeir money into other people’s/company’s ideas. This investment is called funding. Many young start-ups need this financial support to turn their ideas to reality. But before they can seek funding, they need to convince the potential funder that their product/service will draw monetary benefits soon. This is done by way of a pitch, where fund seekers convince the funder of the strength of their idea. Usually, a funder gets a percentage of prospective sales, and/or a share of the whole business.

How does it work?

The raw material is handpicked, and dried in the sun. It is readied for transportation by local farmers in Tamil Nadu’s Palani, Dindigul, Madurai, and Ottanchathiram. Women working on the farms chose to come on-board to augment their income from their agricultural work. Now, the entire process, from picking up to the leaves to rolling them into straws, is performed by women.

The Leafy Straws

These straws are four to twelve inches tall. They can last for 30 minutes in hot beverages, and for about 6 hours in cold liquids. They fall in the price range of INR 1.5 to INR 3. They do not require any extra coating and are sturdy just in their natural form.

Know more about this trailblazing start-up, here:

Find the full range of their products, here, and slurp guilt-free!

With excerpts from The Better India, The Tribal Box, and Your Story

(The Buzz is a fortnightly column that explores bright ideas that became reality)