Climate change has forced people to introspect and question their consumption pattern and its impact on the environment. This awareness has led to more people moving towards a way of living which is sustainable and minimal. Governments and corporations are investing heavily on technology to achieve carbon neutrality to mitigate future climate crises. Sustainable living is the need of the hour. One way of achieving this is to use products which are recyclable, biodegradable and organic, and leaving no stone unturned to work towards this objective is Uthkala - a manufacturer and seller of sustainable bamboo products.
“After quitting our jobs in engineering, we started from our savings. This was my dream project. We are just a team of eight members and everyone is full of excitement and passionate to make something good for the environment for future generations. This is our sole motivation. We always try to solve problems by bringing new products which help to reduce plastic. Our Vision is to make a sustainable and plastic free environment and owing to our Vision of eco friendliness and sustainability, we design our product, packaging and strategy accordingly”, says Prasanta Roula, CEO, Uthkala.
Offering a Multitude of Sustainable Products
Uthkala started by selling limited products on amazon and their own website. Initially the firm sold directly to consumers but later shifted to the B2B model due to better outlook and scope. Due to the lack of professional manufacturers in India, a lot of products needed to be imported from our neighboring countries. Hence, the firm stepped up to manufacture and fill the gap.
Today, Uthkala sells bamboo toothbrush, bamboo tongue cleaner, bamboo straws, bamboo cutlery, bottles, coconut coir and various bamboo art and craft products. The products are treated for fungus and bacteria. The firm has also collaborated with local artists and bamboo workers in their operation. The firm handpicks the raw material (Bamboo poles) as per specification. With proper supervision, the bamboo poles are split and sliced with accurate length using high end machinery. The firm ensures quality by checking the dimensions and surfaces of the final product for its accuracy and smoothness.
Growing with nature
What makes Uthkala different from other players is their high quality sustainable product and passionate team members. The majority of the products manufactured by the firm are handcrafted and handmade. The firm also leverages technology for better productivity and quality. Uthkala caters to more than 100 regular clients and more than 2000 small and big retailers and wholesalers. The company is also planning to increase and expand its production capacity and start a full fledged production by the end of may 2022. Uthkala plans to make Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) of their products, quality and supply chain to assist further growth of the industry and market.
What makes Uthkala different from other players is their high quality sustainable product and passionate team members
“Just use eco-friendly products, try to decrease the use of single use plastic. Save mother nature. It's our responsibility to hand over a beautiful world to our next generation. Due to being biodegradable and a good alternative to plastics, Bamboo and associated products are getting accepted globally with increasing demand. The market will grow due to an increase in government programs and promotion aided by a fast growing Indian economy. The pandemic forced us to introspect and as a responsible human being we have to go back to sustainable growth”, signs off Prasanta.