India Tech company from Mannheim develops zero-waste alternatives to single-use plastic

Plastic pollution is a global problem. Single-use plastic is widespread and there is often a lack of sustainable alternatives.  The demand for environmentally friendly solutions is growing - including from international companies that want to make their supply chains more sustainable. This is where the German-Indian start-up FRENVI from Mannheim comes in. It combines innovation with environmental awareness and develops edible and compostable cutlery made from purely natural ingredients such as cereals or pulses. India was chosen as the first production location. Not only is there a large market for sustainable solutions here. Plastic waste can also be avoided here to a considerable extent. India produces around 9.46 million tonnes of plastic waste every year, 43 percent of which is packaging waste, mostly single-use plastic. 40 per cent of plastic waste is not disposed of properly. This waste is a huge burden on the environment. A major source of plastic waste is the catering industry, which often uses non-recyclable cutlery. FRENVI is tackling this challenge with an innovative approach: the company has developed a patented production process to manufacture fully biodegradable cutlery and thus reduce plastic waste in the catering industry. Thanks to the collaboration with develoPPP Ventures, the start-up was able to set up a pilot production facility in Bangalore that produces up to 180,000 pieces of cutlery every day. As a result, the project not only contributes to the reduction of plastic, but also creates urgently needed jobs. Bolstered by the success of its first own production facility, FRENVI is planning to open a production facility in Germany in 2025 and is currently building a state-of-the-art, fully automated production facility in Wiesloch-Walldorf in the Rhine-Neckar district. With this facility, the company aims to further expand its leading market position in the greentech sector and at the same time contribute to reducing plastic consumption in Germany. 

With the help of start-up funding of 200,000 euros from the develoPPP programme of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), FRENVI was able to set up a pilot production facility in Bangalore, India, purchase machinery and expand the hall infrastructure. The combination of private funding and public support served as a decisive springboard for the further development of the company's own technology. India proved to be a cost-efficient location for testing and optimising production processes. This enabled FRENVI to set up the daily production of up to 180,000 edible cutlery items made from cereals and pulses, with a measurable effect: to date, this has saved around 200 tonnes of single-use plastic.

In parallel to scaling up production, the funding from develoPPP Ventures has also enabled technological advances: The patented ‘Continuous Thermo Compression 3D Forming’ (CTC3DF) manufacturing process was further developed in order to integrate fibre-based materials into the bio-based circular economy in an even more resource-efficient and economical way.

FRENVI also used the pilot phase in India to establish local supply chains, gain new sales partners and strengthen the economic situation in rural regions in a targeted manner. By involving smallholder farmers in the production of raw materials, new sources of income and long-term prospects were created locally. The develoPPP funding had a confidence-building effect on external investors, as it emphasised the international market potential of the innovation. The successful piloting in India now lays the foundation for expanding the production processes to Germany. FRENVI is thus strategically positioning itself for entry into new markets, expanding its sales markets and at the same time strengthening its market leadership position in the greentech sector.

With the project, FRENVI has succeeded in replacing single-use plastic on a large scale, creating jobs and making Indian catering more sustainable. With the support of develoPPP Ventures and DEG Impulse, FRENVI was able to attract further investors and accelerate the company's growth. 

• 20 million disposable cutlery replaced, 201 tonnes of plastic saved, 144 tonnes of CO₂ emissions and over 10 million litres of water saved.
• 22 new jobs created, with a total of 66 employees benefiting from improved working conditions thanks to FRENVI
• 300 farmers successfully integrated into the supply chain, providing them with a stable, fair income that sustainably improves their families' quality of life.