Eco-Friendly Packaging: UnBubble Agri Startup is creating amazing packaging from straw and corn

Styrofoam and bubble packaging are commonly used in packaging for everything from small glass showpieces and glasses to large TVs, refrigerators, and other electronic items. These packaging is harmful to the environment because they do not decompose in the soil, i.e., they do not get destroyed and continue to add to the waste pile. To address this problem, UnBubble Agri Startup has developed an eco-friendly alternative. This startup is creating amazing eco-friendly packaging from straw and corn.

In a conversation with Sarvesh Bundeli, a correspondent for Kisan of India, Adesh, co-founder of UnBubble Agri Startup, explained that this packaging dissolves completely in water and decomposes in the soil within a week, making it safe for the environment. Let’s learn how this startup is developing sustainable and eco-friendly packaging.

How did the idea for UnBubble Agri Startup come about?

UnBubble co-founder Adesh Ghisere says that India has surpassed even China in terms of plastic waste. Our country produces the most plastic waste, 45% of which is packaging plastic waste alone. This is because there are no sustainable packaging options available in the market. To address this problem, Adesh and his team sought a sustainable packaging option that would not harm the environment, and thus, UnBubble was born.

UnBubble Agri Startup Making Packaging Products from Straw

Adesh explains that his startup is manufacturing two products. One is Vriksh Foam, made from plant-based materials. This foam is created using straw, corn, and technology. The startup’s second product is packaging peanuts, made from corn. The specialty of this packaging is that after unboxing, it dissolves in water within a minute, and you can then pour this water on plants. Aadesh explains that it is also cost-effective, as it costs 450 rupees per kilogram. One kilogram yields 40 bags, which can pack 60 boxes.

Vriksh Foam Decomposes Easily

Aadesh explains that while Styrofoam does not dissolve or rot for 500 years, if you break the packaging of Vriksh Foam and put it in the garden, it decomposes within a week. This is because it is made from straw, so it will help in making society plastic-free and reducing the harm caused by burning stubble.

Eco-friendly Packaging Price

While it’s a bit more expensive than Styrofoam packaging, it’s a great option for brands willing to pay a little more to go plastic-free. Aadesh explains that they participate in various exhibitions to help people learn about this new packaging. While a Styrofoam packaging costs ₹3, Rich Foam will cost ₹4.50. Aadesh says they’re entering into paid partnerships with local startups and offering their packaging to startups in Amritsar, Delhi, Gurgaon, and Uttar Pradesh.

UnBubble Agri Startup Procures Straw Directly from Local Farmers

Aadesh explains that they have a manufacturing unit in Gurgaon. Currently, they aren’t producing on a large scale. Therefore, they source straw directly from local farmers. However, in the future, when they expand production to a larger scale, they’ll need more straw, and will then partner with more farmers. He further explains that stubble and crop residue from farmers’ fields are brought to the manufacturing unit and used after sorting.

Why is it beneficial compared to plastic packaging?

Aadesh says that 99 percent of plastic packaging is made from petrochemicals, minerals that are extracted from underground. Meanwhile, Unbubble’s products are made from natural resources, consuming 7 times less energy than plastic packaging. As for carbon emissions, they emit 15 times less carbon than plastic packaging.

Burning stubble causes air pollution, so UnBubble is helping to reduce that pollution by creating products from that stubble. By creating products from the rich foam, it can be used in packaging for cosmetics, crockery, electronics, and more.

An easy alternative to thermocol and bubble packaging

Given the ever-increasing amount of plastic waste, the government has periodically banned plastic, but due to the lack of affordable alternatives, it has not been completely banned. When asked whether Rich Foam will be able to completely replace bubble packaging in the future, Aadesh says that people in our country want affordable products, so his startup is currently working on further research and development to make this eco-friendly packaging available to people at the same price as plastic packaging. 

Be it Styrofoam or bubble packaging, both are made of plastic, hence they do not get destroyed when thrown away and remain lying there for years, due to which environmental pollution is increasing. In the present times when environmental pollution has become a global problem and plastic is further increasing this problem, in such a situation, like UnBubble, it is important that other innovative youth of the country should also come forward and find cheap and durable alternatives to plastic, so that the country can be truly made plastic free. Along with this, people will also have to become a little aware and try to gradually reduce the use of plastic from their side, like whenever you go anywhere, instead of carrying goods in plastic bags, carry a jute or cloth bag.