Who would imagine that the small rice husk would be a giant in the sustainable recycled cutlery business?
With the world ramping up on sustainability, converting the abundance of rice husks into various uses has been adopted and proliferated by many industries.
In fact, the insignificant rice husk has many benefits. According to the Norwex Global Movement, the husk that covers every kernel of rice provides a plethora of possibilities. A key benefit is that the husks’ high silica content makes it useful for strengthening building materials. Other benefits include the ability to:
- resist fungal decomposition
- resist moisture penetration
- decompose slowly
- insulate well
- convert as renewable energy
Second Life In The Region
How have countries in the region utilized this gift from nature? In Myanmar, rice husks are used to electrify villages. A befitting use as 13 million tons of rice are produced each year there.
In the Philippines, rice husks were made into particle boards to combat termites. Rice husks have strong silica content which make it hard to consume by termites.
In India, rice husks are used to power up lights while in Japan, rice husks are an alternative to wood chips in producing disposable chopsticks.
New Uses in Singapore
It is these intrinsic features of rice husks that have led Singapore-based Husks Green International to produce high quality eco products, especially in the area of dining solutions for modern living.
The company has innovatively manufactured cutleries made from rice husks and supplied to overseas markets in the Europe.
With the Covid19 pandemic prevailing since early 2020, lockdowns have forced households and F&B businesses to resort to takeaways and packing food. Here, Husks Green’s dining, cutleries and packing solutions fit in the gap to meet consumers’ demands as well as embracing sustainability ethos.
While the corporate office is headquartered in Singapore, the manufacturing operations are based in Malaysia. But with global clienteles in Europe and a thriving potential ahead of them, it looks like Husks Green will soon be a leader in eco-friendly products and solutions.
Source: https://ricetoday.irri.org/a-second-life-for-rice-husk/