Businesses worldwide are shifting towards sustainable models by introducing the use of natural and Biodegradable products instead of plastic, becoming efficient in the usage of energy and water. With the emergence of the Covid 19 pandemic, the hospitality industry has been increasingly adopting ‘Single-use/Use & Throw’ products to serve customers. Most of the products found in the market are plastic products and are non-biodegradable. Extensive use of these plastic products is harmful to the environment. The easy alternative to plastic plates and containers is paper plates but they face issues like leaking and become soggy sooner. Therefore, the market needs disposable material that can be used as Plates, Bowls and containers for serving.
Considering the non-suitability of the paper products used by the restaurants and hotels in India and abroad, BioTouch Mercantile LLP, a family-run business from Karnataka, India, has stepped up with a new product idea, serving as the perfect alternative to plastic and environment-friendly plates. The company manufactures Plates, Bowls and containers from Betel/Palm leaves that are originally hard and heat resistant.
Compared to the paper or cardboard containers often used in India, these products have been considered the safest, cleanest, 100 percent natural and biodegradable. According to the company’s founding partner, Mr. Premkumar L Patil, “BioTouch came to the market intending to
give export quality products in India that is high premium quality completely bio-degradable and environmental-friendly products.” BioTouch uses its equipped R&D to develop products with better quality but lower prices to enhance their affordability both in the Indian as well as international market.
Unique Proposition
The Patil family runs years old Areca plantations in Karnataka, one of India's largest cash crops. The company was established with a unique proposition of bio-degradable alternative to plastic materials used as plates in restaurants or domestic gatherings. The founder of the company found Areca leaves to be highly effective for this purpose and is liable to meet the significant demands of the market players like 100 percent clean and washed products, chemical-free process, good packaging and presentation and 100 percent natural. The company started manufacturing more than 40 designs of Plates, Bowls followed by parcel containers looking at the high usability of Areca leaf products that are naturally hard, microwave compatible and leakage-proof. The company has become a market leader in terms of the manufacturing process, cleanliness and packing to market in India and gradually entered into the international market looking at the high demand for such bio-degradable alternatives. So, this is the greatest unique proposition of BioTouch.
BioTouch has become a market leader in terms of the manufacturing process, cleanliness and packing to market in India
Since its inception in 2020, the company has been able to produce a continuous supply of products to the major clients that are high-end hospitality companies. Constant availability and manufacturing of products in various designs have helped the company gain reliability of their operations among the clients.
Future Projections
Although there is a price restricted demand for the Areca plates and containers in the Indian market, BioTouch is hopeful of penetrating the Indian market in time to come. As Premkumar Patil mentions, “BioTouch is currently selling 25 percent of its products in the Indian market, and 75 percent of its products are sold in international market inclusive.” Therefore, the company is eager to push through the Indian market with better marketing strategies. Premkumar says the Indian market lacks awareness towards the use of uncleaned and unprocessed leaf plates, which needs to change future. Finally, as the economy evolves towards becoming more cleaner and greener, the regulatory need for a sustainable alternative for plastic/cardboard will be met by Areca leaf plates/containers.
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