"Edible Cutlery Sees Way Out of Plastic Pollution"

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by Valerie Flynn

Plastic waste covers our oceans and landfill. The past 70 years of plastic waste have resulted in pollution so ubiquitous scientists say it’s a marker of a new geological epoch, the manmade Anthropocene.

Plastic cutlery is a contributor to this enormous problem – estimates suggest the US alone uses 40bn plastic utensils a year – but the founder of Indian cutlery company Bakeys thinks he might have a solution. Cutlery you can eat.

The vegan friendly spoons are made from rice, wheat and sorghum, an ancient grain originally from Africa. Sorghum was chosen as a primary ingredient for its tough quality (it doesn’t go soggy in liquids) and because it is suitable for cultivation in semi-arid areas.

The cutlery comes in three flavours – savoury (salt and cumin), sweet (sugar) and plain. “It tastes like a cracker, a dry cracker because we don’t put any fat in it. It can complement any food. The taste of the food

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that it's served with comes through,” says Bakeys founder, Narayana Peesapaty.

These edible utensils are not just designed to be consumed alongside meals; they are also intended to minimize waste. Once you're done eating, you can simply eat the cutlery itself or compost it, thus reducing the burden of traditional plastic waste on the environment.

Bakeys has already gained traction in India, where single-use plastics have faced increasing scrutiny and regulation. In 2019, India announced a plan to eliminate all single-use plastics by 2022, which has escalated the demand for alternative solutions like Bakeys' edible cutlery.

Peesapaty emphasizes that while Bakeys is a step towards reducing plastic pollution, it should not be seen as a catch-all solution. “We need to change our mindsets about convenience. If we can make small changes in our habits, we can lessen our impact on the environment,” he states.

While edible cutlery may not yet be a mainstream choice, it highlights an innovative solution to a pressing problem. As more consumers and businesses seek sustainable alternatives, products like Bakeys' may play a significant role in the future of dining and waste reduction.