Most Indian cities have banned the use of plastic bags which is a refreshing change taking into consideration the environmental damage they cause. Out of the 15000 tonnes of plastic which is disposed every month, only half of it is processed while the rest is consumed by animals or left to degrade by itself. However, everybody will agree on the fact that the plastic bags were useful for carrying back groceries. To combat the environmental hazards, a Qatar-based Indian entrepreneur, Ashwanth Hegde has come up with a brilliant solution.
After conducting a rigorous research for almost four years, he has come up with the idea of EnviGreen which makes organic, eco-friendly and biodegradable bags. These bags by EnviGreen look exactly like plastic bags but are made of natural starches and oil derivatives. These bags degrade in 180 days when thrown onto the streets and cause no harm when eaten by stray animals. The process of making these bags is a complex one as it uses twelve ingredients: potato, tapioca, corn, natural starch, vegetable oil, banana, and flower oil. The twelve raw materials are first transformed into liquids and through a complex six-step procedure, the end-product, i.e. the bag, is ready. The procedure is devoid of any chemical usage and the paints used are completely organic. These bags are a little more expensive than your normal plastic bag but considering how eco-friendly they are, they are soon going to become an alternative to our generic polythene. The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) has already given thumbs up to the use of these bags.
Ashwanth, with his small but dedicated team of 60 people, has set up a new factory in Bengaluru where they aim to produce 1000 tonnes of bags each month. The raw materials are sourced from the farmers locally. The bags are going to be available in India shortly but have already made a presence in Qatar and United Arab Emirates.
These bags by EnviGreen will definitely reduce the environmental problems posed in the country due to plastic.
