Irida Naturals

After every rice harvest, the husk, the hard outer shell of each grain, gets separated and largely discarded. In India, a significant portion of it gets burned in fields, contributing to the stubble burning problem that blankets North India in smog every winter. The same happens with wheat straw after harvest. Irida Naturals, founded in Bengaluru in 2021 by Sooraj and Sanjana, both educated in KFI Foundation schools where sustainability was part of the curriculum, takes these two waste streams and turns them into tableware.

Rice husk plates, bowls, mugs, and water bottles. Wheat straw cutlery sets, ramen bowls, and snack plates. All BPA-free, food-safe, microwave and dishwasher safe, and built to last three to five years with normal use. The material is lightweight but noticeably more durable than ceramic at comparable price points. The same rice husk material extends to pet bowls, with the same construction as the human-use tableware.

The home and kitchen range covers plates, bowls, mugs, tea cups, ramen bowls, water bottles, cutlery sets, and biodegradable sponge wipes in four colour options. The pet bowl designs sit separately. No third-party certification for biodegradability beyond the brand's own claims, worth noting if that is a deciding factor for you.

A practical brand for anyone replacing plastic kitchenware at home. The agricultural waste origin story is verifiable and the product longevity makes the price per use reasonable. The design is clean enough that it does not look like a compromise.