Biodegradable packaging to store liquid food without leaks

Sachin Gangadharan

Founder of Goa startup that makes biodegradable packaging to store liquid food without leaks

The food delivery business is one of the most thriving industries in the current times. However, there is a highly problematic outcome of the practice- rampant use of plastic packaging contributes greatly to plastic waste’s ever-increasing burden on the planet.

However, Goa-based startup, LaFabrica Craft, founded by an architect-turned-entrepreneur Sachin Gangadharan, has the right solution to this humongous problem.

“The practice of food packaging and delivery in the food and restaurant business is predominantly centred around plastic or aluminium containers. These containers either pile up in our homes or probably enter a landfill. So to solve this problem, we came up with an eco-friendly packaging solution that allows liquid foot items to be carried without any risk of leakage or spilling,” says Sachin.

Made of recycled paper pulp or enzymes drawn from cotton, wheat husk and other organic materials, this packaging material is produced through a carbon-neutral procedure and is shaped into a pouch by self-help groups and locals. After use, these pouches that can hold more than 15 kg of weight, can be easily discarded into a compost bin to be biodegradable through an anaerobic process.

The founder adds that the paper is lined with an extra layer of Poly Lactic Acid, a polymer derived from tapioca or cornstarch for the leak-proof quality. If left undisturbed, the liquid food items inside this packaging can be retained for 46 hours before starting to leak.

Currently, Sachin is working on replacing the PLA coating with an alternative that can help biodegrade the pouches naturally, without the need for composting.