India’s fast food industry looks to combat plastic waste with biobased alternatives

In India, restaurateur Rohit Aggarwal is offering biobased cutlery and takeaway packaging at 145 of his Lite Bite Foods locations to reduce plastic waste that finds its way into the environment.

“Plastic is a bad word today,” he tells Times of India. “Diners are not only looking at what’s on their plate, but they are also concerned about what the plat is made of. An organization has to be environmentally conscious in today’s age.”

Products include thalis made from corn starch, paper straws, and bags made from sugar cane pulp. Lite Bite Foods includes popular fast food options Punjab Grill, Asia 7, and Zambar.

Other Indian takeaway companies, such as food delivery services Swiggy and Zomato, are combatting plastic waste by giving customers the option of opting out of plastic cutlery with their orders.