Tambul Leaf Plates
Tambul Leaf Plates produces and markets biodegradable disposable dinnerware through various community-owned micro-enterprises. Products are made from the fallen sheath of the areca nut palm, so the product is environmentally friendly and provides a viable alternative to highly polluting plastic and Styrofoam plates. The enterprise helps rural producers across villages in North-East India to establish micro-enterprises through capacity-building and technical, financial and marketing support. The plates are purchased from the rural producers.
- Increasing the earnings of low-income rural families.
- Providing entrepreneurial and production skills training to rural villagers.
- Increasing the economic independence of women, as most of those collecting raw materials are female.
- Environmentally friendly production.
- Reducing pollution from dinnerware by providing a biodegradable disposable alternative.
- Protecting local ecosystems and avoiding deforestation by reducing the dependence on timber as a source of livelihood.
- Generating additional, steady income for rural producers.
- Providing technical assistance and capacity-building aimed at boosting efficiency and productivity.
- Increasing revenues by expanding activities into other North-Eastern states of India.
Partners
Tamul Plates Marketing Private Ltd. (TPMPL) leads the enterprise, supporting rural micro-enterprises engaged in plate production and marketing the plates to consumers.
Dhriiti – The Courage Within initiated TPMPL and supports the enterprise with monitoring, guidance and in-kind and staff support.
Axum Agri helps TPMPL spread their activities to other areas, and provides training and technical assistance to communities.
