As all eaters-on-the-run know, disposable plastic cutlery is a major source of waste and pollution. The US alone uses 40 billion items every year. Narayana Peesapaty, the founder of Hyderabad-based Bakey's, has a solution. His company makes edible forks and spoons from rice, wheat and sorghum -- the latter is a key ingredient because it doesn't go soggy in liquids.
The cutlery is fat-free and vegan, comes in three flavours (savoury, salt and plain) and is claimed to take on the flavour of the food eaten with it. Even if thrown away, it degrades harmlessly in few days. With a background in crop research and water management, Peesapaty was conscious of the need to source the materials sustainably.
Bakey's has been manufacturing the utensils since 2011 and selling them to caterers for weddings, but interest has recently gone global. A crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter had a goal of $20,000 (£14,000) but has already raised 12 times that, and a Facebook video has had more than 5 million views. Unfortunately, for now, plastic is still cheaper. Bakeys can sell an edible spoon for 2 rupees (2p), cheaper than the wooden equivalent but twice the price of a plastic spoon. Peesapaty hopes to be able to match that before too long.
Read more about Sustain's work on sustainable eating here.
Sustain: Sustain The alliance for better food and farming advocates food and agriculture policies and practices that enhance the health and welfare of people and animals, improve the working and living environment, enrich society and culture and promote equity.
