Biodegradable straws with fallen coconut leaves that reduce plastic and create work

The coconut leaves that fall end up in agricultural landfills, while Evlogia Eco Care collects them and transforms them into organic straws.

The coconut leaves that fall on the plantations end up in agricultural landfills, Evlogia Eco Care collects them and transforms them into sustainable straws with the help of local women who find themselves in vulnerable situations.

Fortunately, more and more countries around the world are withdrawing single-use plastic items, following environmental policies that try to reduce the pollution caused by this material, and among these products are straws. Evlogia Eco Care, an Indian start-up, has redesigned them using a 100% sustainable material: coconut leaves fallen from trees. (READ ALSO: These eco-friendly straws made with weed decompose in just 15 days)

Biodegradable straws with fallen coconut leaves that reduce plastic and create work

Although there are already on the market sustainable straws made of paper, with reusable waste of wheat, bamboo, metal and even grass produced in different parts of the world, the proposal of this company is innovative because it puts back into circulation a material that would be finished. regardless of the waste. The product obtained is resistant, remaining intact in liquids for a long time. (READ also: Straws with pasta: ziti (and other alternatives) to say stop to plastic)

The project goes beyond the environmental sphere assuming at the same time a strong social connotation, in fact Evlogia Eco Care favors the recruitment of local women with limited economic resources. Throughout the production process of the straws - from the collection of the leaves to the packaging of the product - the work is carried out exclusively by women.

The Bangalore start-up started producing its straws in 2019 with three female employees producing 150 straws a day and now, thanks to the strong demand for its products, it has grown to produce more than 10.000 a day, has 15 female employees from situations of hardship and creates jobs also in other nearby realities, such as in self-help groups of women who are in charge of harvesting the leaves or in small local farmers.

Straws can be made in different sizes, ranging from 4 to 12 inches, the remarkably cheap cost of which varies between 1,5 and 3 Indian rupees (between 0,02 and 0,04 euros). In addition, they require no outer coating and can remain intact in hot drinks for 30 minutes and in cold drinks for up to 6 hours.

These fallen coconut leaf straws are an eco-friendly and sustainable alternative to plastic. They currently market in the United States, Canada, Australia, Malaysia, the United Kingdom, Germany and the United Arab Emirates, but we have no doubt that the list will continue to grow soon.

Drinking without a straw always remains the best alternative, and for those who cannot do without it now there is also this innovative alternative, environmentally friendly and which promotes and supports rural development in India.