Our Story – vistaraku

Vistaraku is a Pioneering Enterprise dedicated to crafting High-quality Eco-Friendly, Disposable & Bio-degradable Leak proof cutlery. Our passion lies in creating exquisite leaf plates and bowls that champion the cause of reducing the carbon footprint in the food industry.

Vistaraku is manufacturing the Eco-Friendly products with innovative ways to generate a sustainable product which can replace single use plastic pollution globally. We emphasize on creating Sustainable Products and Promoting Sustainable Lifestyle.

Vistaraku (Mandalaa- “Manufacturer”- proprietary micro scale sustainable leaf tableware industry) is the manufaturer of these sustainable products with their own Farm and Manufacturing Unit located in a village in the Indian State of Telangana. Managed by a team of experienced and dedicated professionals, working effortlessly and diligently to promote healthy lifestyle and manufacture sustainable products to make consumption/eating food not only healthy to the individual but also to the environment.

Vistaraku UAE is the sole reseller and distributor of Vistaraku products in United Arab Emirates.

Disadvantages of using Plastic

The disposable plates, cups, bowls, tumblers, spoons, bags, covers, sheets, films are made from plastics such as polythene, polypropylene, polyester, polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrene, polycarbonate, epoxy resins, polysulfone, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, and melamine formaldehyde. These plastics can release toxic substances including bisphenol A, melamine, vinyl chloride, phthalates, etc. into the food during usage. For example, bisphenol A, a starting material for the synthesis of plastics such as polycarbonate, epoxy resins, and polysulfone, is a possible carcinogen and causes prostrate and breast cancers, insulin resistance, and heart diseases. It is classified as xenoestrogen and being an endocrine disrupting chemical (EDC), it exhibits hormone mimicking properties and affects the male and female fertility in humans and animals. The compound melamine is toxic and causes kidney damage.

Siali Leaf

Siali Leaf scientifically known as Bauhinia Vahlii belonging to the family CAESALPINIACEAE, is a giant, wild woody perennial creeper with large leaves that that typically grows around Sal trees a native tree of Indian subcontinent. It is widely distributed in the forest areas of Indian states.

These leaf plates are extensively used as meal plates in houses, hotels, religious ceremonies, festivals, weddings, community feasts and also in occasions where food is served for a large number of people. Based on the Paris agreement on climate change, the developed nations in Europe are shifting to biodegradable products. As a part of this initiate, high-end restaurants are shifting to serving food to customer in biodegradable Siali plates.

In comparison with Sal, Siali leaves are the preferred raw material due to the large size and durability of the leaf.

Advantages and Environmental Importance of Siali Leaves and Leaf Plates

The leaves are bilobed, 10-46 cm long, rich in various quercetin flavonoids and known to exhibit antibacterial, antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antidiabetic effects.

The impact of disposable plasticware utilization in our day to day has led to a search for alternate renewable resource, i.e., use of plant leaves as dining plates and food wraps. The leaves are Non Timber Forest Products (NTFP) defined as biological materials, other than timber, which are extracted from forest for human use . These are collected from the forests by the tribal people of India. The end products such as plates and cups made out of leaves are known as patravali, pattal, vistari, vistaraku; and done, dona, respectively, in various Indian languages. The leaf plates are environment friendly, biodegradable, compostable and amenable for longer duration storage and can be easily disposed off. They are economical and don’t require cleaning with phosphate-rich soaps and detergents, a time taking, labor intensive process. The nutrient-rich detergents released into the water bodies lead to a phenomenon known as eutrophication, in which excessive growth of algae and its anaerobic decomposition depletes dissolved oxygen leading to fish kill (Sarin, 2017). The leaves exhibit significant antibacterial and antifungal properties against various bacteria and fungi, thus protect us from the environmental and food borne pathogens (Sahu and Padhy 2013). The abundance of polyphenols, which could probably be leached into the food make them as ideal natural antioxidant (Somayaji and Hegde 2016).

Compostable

Made from leave, our organic tableware is 100% Compostable. But what does that mean excatly? Our plates and bowls completely break down into non-toxic, natural components that will not harm the environment. we strongly believe in sustanibility. The waste from our homes goes straight to landfils, incinerators and contributes for immense pollution. Did you know more than 50% of this waste can be composted. Composting is an easy way to make a huge impact in the environmental issues that we face today. Add this step to your green habits can go a very long way. Helps decrease green house gas emissions by decreasing methane and carbon outputs. Food waste generates an estimated 8-10% of worlds GHG Emissions. The beneficial microbes found in compost help aerate and fertilize the soil. Plants will not be able to access nutrients without these microbes. Compost can hold 5-20 times its weight in water, increasing the water that is able to penetrate the soil. This helps in more rain, replenishing water, cleaning oceans and preventing soil erosion.

Chosing Vistaraku over plastic?

Still using plastic to serve your special people?

– Plastic leaches into food served. Poisoning our loved ones

– Hard to recycle/dispose safely.

– Causes pollution and animal deaths.

– Cheaper and easily available.

– Leaf is loaded with anti-oxidants which has numerous health benefits.

– Home compostable.

– 30 to 40 percent more expensive.

Always a better choice for your special events

Impress your guests with sustainable tableware.

Make a statement and become an example for your friends and family.

What difference is vistaraku making in your events

– Serve in a healthy and hygienic way.

– Make your event a “zero waste event”.

– Help spread awareness about sustainable alternatives.

– Anti-oxidants in leaves enhance the flavour of food, gives feeling of satisfaction and helps in digestion.

NOT JUST THAT!

Manufacturing Process

Tribal women travel deep into the forests to collect these leaves which are then shade dried. These shade dried leaves in 4 -5 numbers are hand and machine stitched into round plates using grass stem sticks and bamboo splits, respectively. The leaf plates and bowls are then made by pressing the hand-stiched leaves with liner (3-ply corrugated sheet) or food-grade craft sheet using a hydraulic heat press with Natural Gum in between. The heat helps kill any bacteria/virus and also to remove moisture from the leaves to avoid fingus growing on the plates/ bowls.