Namitha Shajan
Akshay Ganga
Abhishek Chauhan
Apurv Jain
Qadir Sadriwala
Nishita Bhardwaj
Goa Institute of Management
Divya Singhal
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Usage of disposable cups is an alarming concern for the environment. To address this challenge, Sprout Group is incorporating sustainability in disposable cups. They have found an innovative way to coat paper cups with water based solution, which is an alternative to the plastic coating that is traditionally used.
Since industries use a traditional method of coating which is not 100% biodegradable, Sprout Group’s innovation is a breakthrough in the industry of disposable utensils. As this innovative water coating makes their products completely biodegradable, it ensures sustainable usability by consumers, and helps make communities cleaner and greener. In the long run, it lowers the carbon footprint we leave behind and helps against the changing climate.
The paper cups available in the market are 90-95% paper and the remaining 5-10% are plastic coatings (polyethelene). This coatings on the cups make them waterproof and able to hold liquids. The plastic is problematic for both the environment and people's health since the plastic breaks down into nanoparticles when exposed to hot liquids, which results in people ingesting nano plastic particles that are carcinogenic in nature.
Mr. Sandeep came up with the idea of using a water-based coating on these cups which is biodegradable making the cup also 100% biodegradable and not harmful to human health.
The leader comes from a farmer's family but is passionate about entrepreneurship. He also left a well-paying job to start a company that produces 4 lack (0.4 million) disposable cups per day. After all of the mishaps discussed above in the report, he decided to make his business sustainable in the long run and decided to move to a sustainable alternative.
Sprout group came up with this innovation in the year 2017. Since their products encompass disposable utensils like cups and plates, their consumers are people who consume fast food on streets and people who host events where food is served in disposable utensils.
Since existing disposable utensils are carcinogenic in nature, Sprout Group is the right choice for the people. As people around the globe use disposable cups, their target consumers are not bound to any geographic location. As the current disposable products are a concern to the health of consumers and the environment, Sprout Group aims to expand in their business to gain a revenue of 100 Cr in the next 5 years. They are in the process of expanding to Ireland. Further, they plan to collaborate with Swachh Bharat Abhiyan to collect the used cups and startups like Swiggy and Zomato to provide disposable utensils for the food. They are also planning to develop new products to replace banana leaves, and make disposable takeaway boxes and meat/fish pouches.
As of now, Sprout Group provides 100% biodegradable utensils across 3 states in the southern region of India, and to various countries Qatar, UK, Saudi Arabia and Oman.
In the foreseeable future, they have a plan of expansion to other states in India, plan to broaden distribution through collaborations with delivery services like Swiggy and Zomato, a plan to expand to Ireland and the European Union as well. With such immense expansion, the traditional disposable utensils will be replaced by biodegradable utensils, which will effectively bring down the amount of non-biodegradable waste in the long run.
The disposable utensils being used currently are harmful to health due to their carcinogenic nature. They cause damage to the environment too since they are not 100% biodegradable.
This is resolved by the usage of water based coating on the disposable paper products. This coating makes the products safe to use and can be disposed of without any damage to the environment as they are 100% degradable.
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SPROUT GROUP is a private company based in Kannur, Kerala. It is a multifaceted enterprise with a business model focusing on engineering, construction, manufacturing of biodegradable disposables, and exports of fair and organic products for some of the world’s most prestigious public and private organizations. It focuses on the entire client value chain with its products.
Sprout Group, as a company catering to elaborate and diverse industries, believes in building a stronger and more sustainable economy that benefits society in general.
