Edible cutlery, which is considered a potential alternative to environmentally harmful plastic spoons and forks, has aroused the interest of the city-based Defence Food Research Laboratory (DFRL).
Speaking to The Hindu on the sidelines of its National Technology Day Exhibition on Wednesday, Rakesh Kumar Sharma, Director of DFRL, a premier food research laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation, said their scientists were working on edible cutlery that had the potential to replace plastic spoons and forks.
“Just like one eats the cone after enjoying an ice cream, one would be able to eat spoons and forks they use for eating their food,” he said.
However, Dr. Sharma said: “But, it [the technology] is still in the development stage. Can’t predict by when the technology will be ready,” he said.
DFRL is also working on polyethylene or plastic packaging material, which is degradable upon exposure to heat or ultraviolet radiation, he added. DFRL had so far transferred 467 food products and technologies to entrepreneurs across India for commercial exploitation.
Meanwhile, the State government’s decision to outlaw the use of plastic spoons, forks, and cups as part of its decision to ban plastic and its products has created a demand for edible cutlery — seen as a cost-effective alternative. A couple of private players across the country are also engaged in the manufacture of edible cutlery.
The catering industry, which has also been at the receiving end of the ban on plastics, is looking forward to cost-effective edible cutlery.
“We are unable to find a cost-effective replacement for plastic cutlery. We used to get 100 small plastic spoons or forks each at Rs. 12 or Rs. 13. In contrast, steel cutlery is not only expensive, but often lost or misplaced at parties and dinners,” said Mohammed Mukarram, a caterer in Mysuru. “Cost-effective edible cutlery is the need of the hour,” he added.
