Mumbai: Sustainability is a word which we get to hear quite often these days. But are we actually implying it in our day to day lives? And especially when it comes to saying no to plastic, embracing eco-friendly alternatives like bamboo or rice straws can significantly reduce our environmental footprint. Not only do these straws help minimise plastic waste, but they also contribute to cleaner oceans and healthier ecosystems. Making the switch to eco-friendly straws is a small yet impactful step towards a more sustainable future.
Emboying the true essence of sustainability is a visionary entrepreneur and sustainability enthusiast Vishal Laddha. With over a decade of experience and a diverse educational background, he simplifies sustainability through cooperation and consulting, aiming to leave a lasting legacy for future generations. His venture, Smaart Eats LLP, leads the industry with eco-straw innovations. Offering consulting services, Vishal guides individuals and brands towards sustainable growth, from ideation to execution. Notably, his introduction of Smaart Rice Straw showcases his commitment to environmental stewardship and social responsibility, earning him acclaim in initiatives like the Maharashtra State Innovation Society.
Indiantelevision.com caught up with Rice Straw co-founder Vishal Laddha to gain valuable insights on the creation of Smaart Eats LLP, elements or materials that make up the composition of Smaart Eats' rice straw and much more.
Edited Excerpts:
On your inspiration behind focuing on sustainability
Covid-19 Pandemic was an eye opener for me. It made me realise about the karmic quote “What goes around, comes around”. The way we have abused natural resources, the nature gave it back to us. The pandemic gave us time to reset, reassess and analyse about the things which we ignore like taking care of our surroundings; and what are we giving back to society? The decision of building a sustainable future came from my inner consciousness; hence my life is now dedicated to creating a better future for the generations to come.
On the creation of Smaart Eats LLP and its eco-straw variations
We saw a big gap in the straw market. Before 2022 only plastic were used predominantly. Only after the ban on single-use plastic, paper straws became popular. But, there were not enough manufacturers to meet the demand.
We realised that India is an agriculture country and about 25 per cent of food grains go in vain just at the warehouse before they are sold in the market, may be due to overstocking or quality related issues. That’s when we had our Eureka moment, we thought why don’t we up cycle these crops make the straws which would be made with natural ingredients, eco-friendly, which can bio-degradable, which can be composted easily, which are sustainable and creates zero waste.
On Smaart Eats LLP's distinguishing factor setting its innovative product, Smaart Rice Straw, apart in the competitive market for sustainable alternatives
Smaart Rice Straw a product by Smaart Eats LLP stands for its innovation in every step. We work on the principals of quality, consistency and trust. We offer our straws at an economical price, so it can be easily accepted by the customers without burning their pockets.
Alternatively, talking about paper straws, they are still sold loosely in transparent plastic pouches. This does not have mentions any specification about its manufacturer of the materials used to make the straws.
Paper straws made of recycled paper which goes through rigours chemical treatments. More to this, the glue which is used to bind these straws is not of the food grade. All these toxic chemicals go into your drink, which is enough to make you very sick in the long run!
Would you still consider paper straws sustainable?
On the challenges that you have faced in revolutionising the industry with eco-friendly products
Introducing a new product and creating a new category of product is a challenge in itself. The biggest challenge that we still face is in creating awareness. To create large scale awareness, you need a very big budget to advertise on a national level. Being a bootstrapped start-up we have limited resources and we have to spend very sensibly at every stage.
As, I always say sustainability is in our own hands, we have to change our mind-sets first in order to change others. Unless, the end consumers don’t ask the restaurants, cafes, hotels for our sustainable products. Restaurants don’t find a need to invest in it.
I feel governments can play a vital role in creating awareness and promote brands which are helping in making India clean and green. I believe even a little help in procuring raw materials, subsidies, 0 GST on eco-friendly products can help the industry to grow organically.
On the specific elements or materials that make up the composition of Smaart Eats' rice straw, ensuring it meets the criteria of being 100 per cent biodegradable, gluten-free, and vegan
Smaart Rice Straw is the first ever registered branded straws in India. Our straws are made of three major ingredients rice flour, Tapioca starch and water. We have are certified by FSSAI, START-UP INDIA, ISO, FDA, HACCP, HALAL, KOSHER and we possess all mandatory lab tests which ensure all its properties and features. All our raw materials are sources ethically from the local market and we promote women empowerment.
On whether your business is currently established in both traditional retail spaces and online channels, embracing an omni channel approach to enhance accessibility for your customers
As manufacturers, we focus on B2B institutional sales to generate volumes. After all manufacturing is all about economies of scale. The more we make the lesser will be the manufacturing cost and we will be able to offer better prices to customers.
Therefore, we have strategic tie-ups with many prestigious hospitality chains like Social, Natural ice-creams, Mainland china, Yoko’s Sizzlers, Toscano, The Bar stock exchange, Olive, Smoke house deli, Sigree Global Grill, Hyatt hotels, Taj Group, Novotel, The Fern Group, Sheraton Hotels and many more. We serve directly to more than 750 outlets across India.
Straw as a product is not widely used at house-hold level unless there is a party; hence we never concentrated on B2C segment. However, we do have our e-commerce website where people order and reach us.
On your future expansion plans, and on envisioning to scale your business to reach new markets or introduce innovative products/services
To scale our business we are investing in technology and automation to enlarge our production capacity. We are also in a phase of trials of our new product range. We are collaborating with start-ups who are likeminded and manufacturing eco-friendly products. With a common vision to make India sustainable!
We manifest to be the biggest Rice Straw manufacturers in the world. We make in India the hub of Rice Straws, serve the domestic market and also export globally.
