Since the ban on single use plastic in the country, plastic plates, cups, spoon, etc. have almost ceased to be available in the market. In such a situation, students and scientists of NIIST have made a unique invention. These scientists have prepared an alternative to the plastic used in daily use. These students have started making bio-plastic goods produced from agricultural waste.
Agricultural products made from agricultural wastes
Scientists at the National Institute of Interdisciplinary Science and Technology at Pappanamode in Thiruvananthapuram district, Kerala, have prepared plates, spoons, cups and bags from biodegradable waste originating from agricultural wastes. Actually the raw material consists of agricultural waste, garbage is collected from rice husk, wheat bran, pine leaves and pineapple leaves.
These scientists have created fantastic items used in everyday life from the waste of pineapple leaves and sugarcane etc., which is attracting people towards them.
Biodegradable products are environmentally friendly
Cutlery, often used as plastic products, damages the environment in large quantities. It has now been replaced by environmentally friendly agricultural waste products. These products are gaining momentum in everyday life of common people without harming nature.
Agreement with companies for biodegradable product
In this regard, scientist Dr. KG Raghu explains that pine, pineapple, apple leaves had become a headache for the farmers here, because the crop is produced as a large-scale commercial crop in many places here. When the Kovid 19 pandemic occurred and the lockdown took place, it faced a serious problem of removing pineapple leaves from the pineapple processing factory premises.
Then the government contacted us and asked for help to find a solution. Then we explored bio-production options from agricultural waste.
At the same time, the director of the institute, Dr. Ajay Ghosh, says that we have also signed a memorandum of understanding with two companies. Our aim is to produce bio cutlery using biodegradable waste or agricultural waste such as rice bran, wheat bran, sugarcane waste and similar raw materials.
This is called the price of mango kernels, because agricultural waste is also becoming a profitable deal for farmers. These products made from agricultural waste are durable and nature friendly, they are also very cheap compared to plastic products. The specialty of these products is that they dissolve in the soil within 30 days.
Overall, it can be said that these products are not only notable as an alternative to plastics, but will also help in reducing air pollution after burning agricultural wastes.
WhatsApp us