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Indian
dining ware brand Bakey’s – which recently launched edible spoons, forks, and bowls in an attempt to reduce
plastic waste – has fallen under criticism by environmentalists.
Cutlery
According
to the company website, Hyderabad-based founder Andhra Pradesh created Bakey’s
with the aim to offer a ‘healthy, nutritious and eco-friendly alternative’ to
single-use plastics.
The spoons
and forks – developed in 2010 – and the brand’s more recently introduced bowls
and pots are made from sorghum, rice, and wheat flours.
They are
available in plain, sweet, and spicy flavors and reportedly taste like
crackers.
Waste
reduction
Similarly
to most plastic cutlery, Bakey’s products are single use.
However,
consumers have the option to either eat the cutlery after use or allow it to
decompose naturally, which takes around four to five days – facts well received by many.
One commenter took to Instagram to suggest that Bakey’s may be a viable be option for major players
in the food industry, writing that Starbucks – a company currently making moves toward waste reduction – ‘should also consider a product
like this’.
Criticism
While the
company is not without its supporters – and generated enough online interest in
2016 to earn $280,000 through crowdfunding page Kickstarter – Bakey’s has fallen under criticism by environmentalists.
Emily
Alfred of Toronto’s Environmental Alliance told CBC: “We are still
dedicating a lot of our resources to these new products, whether it is to
create them, transport them, have them packaged or processed.”
Alfred
suggested that consumers should carry their own set of reusable cutlery, rather
than opting for a single-use disposable product, to maximize waste reduction.
