This post is a part of the Early Stage Climate Startup series from Climafix 2024
Highlights
- Value-added fully biodegradable and compostable products from proprietary bio-based materials
- An alternative to traditional plastic packaging.
1. Value Proposition
- Earthworks offers a fully biodegradable and home-compostable alternative to traditional plastic packaging, made from plant-based components like cellulose and lignin. These materials decompose naturally without leaving any microplastics. Their products have a lower carbon footprint compared to conventional plastics while also providing excellent mechanical properties, such as high durability and flexibility.
2. Pain Points
- With only 9% of plastic being recycled globally, and most plastic waste ending up in landfills or being incinerated, Earthworks addresses this issue by providing compostable packaging that naturally degrades within months under composting conditions, without leaving harmful microplastics.
3. Climate Impact
- Reduction in Carbon Emissions: Earthwork’s bio-based packaging has a CO₂ footprint that is much lower than HDPE plastic.
- Preventing Microplastic Pollution: Earthwork’s products mitigate the growing problem of microplastic contamination
4. Current & Future Target Segments
- Current Target Segments: The food service, cosmetics, and industrial packaging markets, where single-use plastics are most prevalent. They offer rigid containers, cutlery, and flexible packaging. The company is also working on cosmetic packaging solutions like cream jars and personal care bottles.
- Future Target Segments: By 2026, Earthworks aims to expand its applications into sectors like automotive, textiles, and sports and recreation, also using its bio-based materials for products such as toys, interiors, and primary packaging.
5. USPs
- Fully Biodegradable and Compostable Products: Earthworks’ proprietary blend of natural fibers and bio-adhesives differentiates itself by offering packaging materials that are 100% biodegradable and home-compostable, unlike many bioplastics that require industrial composting facilities. It also provides superior barrier properties compared to many other bioplastics.
6. Team Profiles
- Trupti Arabatti (Founder & CEO): Trupti is a materials engineer with over 15 years of experience in developing sustainable composites and bio-based materials. Her expertise in materials selection, product development, and certification has been key to Earthwork’s ability to create high-performance, sustainable packaging solutions. She also led the company’s patent-pending formulation of bio-based granules.
- Alok Joshi (Co-Founder & CTO): Alok is a mechanical engineer with 15 years of experience in product development and mechanical design. His expertise in manufacturing technologies and life cycle management has driven Earthwork’s ability to scale its production processes efficiently. Alok also oversees the company’s R&D and production.