We produce and market biodegradable disposable dinnerware, through community-owned micro-enterprises spread across North East India. The tableware provides quality green alternatives to urban and global customers and generates sustainable livelihoods amongst rural women and youth, locally. We envisage to replace 2000 MT of toxic disposable plates annually by 2025 and in the process generate employment for 20000 rural women and youth.
More than 100,000 Ha of arecanut plantations in North East India
Rural women collect the naturally fallen arecanut sheaths and supply to micro-enterprises
Every sheath is quality checked and sterilised before usage.
Sheaths are pressed into plates and bowls using heat press machines in micro-enterprises using only water and heat in the process.
All plates are quality checked in a centralised facility and then packaged for dispatch.
Plate distribution in domestic and global markets.
The plates give a better dining experience
Plates degrade naturally within 60 days. Each Kg of the plates reduces 6 Kgs of CO2 emission.
Tamul is a unique organization in many ways. First it is in a segment which most of the world is worried about that is biodegradables; second, it works in geographies where many more initiatives like this are needed and lastly, works with the poorest of the poor in these geographies — an organization which works in this unique intersection. I have personally seen Arindam and his team work passionately over many years to reach where they have reached today, and I know it is just the beginning. Wishing all the best from my end.
Kinara Capital saw a determined visionary in Mr. Arindam Dasgupta and recognized Tamul as a promising business with potential for fast-growth that will create jobs. Our relationship with Tamul started in 2015 with a small loan to support the working capital needs of the company. Since then Tamul has successfully serviced two full rounds of loan repayment and has raised one more round of loan which they are currently servicing. Even though the enterprise has gone through some tumultuous times, Tamul has never missed or delayed its schedule of loan repayment. Their perseverance, hard work and focus of the team have kept the enterprise afloat during tough times. We are proud to have played a role in Tamul’s impressive journey.
I have known the founding members of the Tamul plates since 2014. Through the journey of the last few years with them, it is heartening to see the positive change that the company has been able to bring to the lives of underserved communities in North-East. It is exciting to see that the company demonstrating impact through the wonderful products that they have come up with. Arindam and his team are well poised to scale the impact further.
I have been closely following Tamul for more than a decade now. They have created a green enterprise out of nothing – the arecanut sheath, which is used as raw material, has no alternative use in the local economy and largely goes waste. The team has diligently adapted technology to the local humid conditions of Assam and has developed an eco-friendly product, which is truly world class. What is praiseworthy is that they have done it in an unpredictable environment where their work has often been hampered by adverse circumstances. As somebody from North East, I love to see the courage, commitment, and innovation that has been the team’s hallmark.
In the year 2017, I came to know about Tamul, when they started collecting arecanut sheaths from our village. I was one of the first collectors and eventually realized that I could set up my arecanut leaf plate production unit, because of the available arecanut sheaths and the income it would generate. Last year I took training and with machinery support I started my production unit. With Tamul’s technical support, I have been to stabilise my production. In the last 4 months, I have supplied around 47650 products to Tamul and have earned around Rs. 44000.
We at Upaya have greatly enjoyed supporting and working with Tamul over the past five years. Arindam and his team care deeply about social and environmental impact, and they have persevered through countless challenges to grow the business and sustain quality jobs. In these rural communities of Assam, Tamul employs between 400-500 women and men, providing their households an average 70% increase in their incomes, along with a safe and dignified work environment, skills training, and opportunities to advance within the company. All in all, I feel the Tamul team has had a great positive impact
My association with Tamul has been for 7 years now. They have been regularly supplying these biodegradable disposable plates over these years. The quality of Tamul plates, the service the team provides is superlative. Over the years I have been able to grow my business and maintain my customer base because of the products they supply and the strong trustworthy relationship that I share with Tamul.
Tamul is a partner of Women on Wings since June 2015. Its an enterprise with a huge social impact at the bottom of the pyramid communities and an environmental impact by offering biodegradable products for the globally used disposable plastic dinnerware. The concept is a proven one and surviving the downfall in business while sacrificing a lot as an entrepreneur, places them amongst the premier league of entrepreneurs. Today, their constant focus is on improving the quality of products, reducing the costs through new innovations. We hope to continue partnering with Tamul in the future, as growth will continue!
Tamul is an exciting all-in-one-solution that works at the intersection of waste management, agri-value chains, and sustainable lifestyles. They are one of our SEED Winners that demonstrated a scale that business can be profitable while respecting nature and the environment. Tamul from day one demonstrated that they see environmental protection not as a cost or a burden, but as a real business opportunity. Every time I meet them I am truly impressed by their remarkable achievements.
