BigBasket’s leaf plate experiment is turning into a fast-growing product line, says CEO Hari Menon

BigBasket's quick commerce arm, BB Now, is seeing steady adoption for its latest sustainability experiment: leaf plates.

"What began as a small sustainability experiment is now one of our fastest-growing product lines," shared Hari Menon, Co-founder and CEO at BigBasket in a LinkedIn post.

Menon is referring to the company's launch of disposable Siali leaf plates as part of its private label, BB Home. The plates developed in partnership with tribal communities in Odisha have managed to build a loyal fan base on the platform over the past few months, said Menon.

After seeing a proliferation of plastic-coated and fungus-prone options in the market, the company decided to "create something better". It began working with the tribal communities to source Siali leaves, which are strong, compostable, and available in abundance. It then undertook R&D efforts to make them tougher and more anti-bacterial.

"​The key innovation is the integration of recycled paper base material with the leaf plates. This R&D-driven step replaces standard binders with natural edible glue, making the final product very sturdy and sustainable," Vishal Das, Vice President Group Category, BigBasket, told YourStory.

Tata-backed BigBasket launched with just 5 SKUs: multiple sizes of round plates, compartment plates, and bowls too. These products already account for over 25% of the sales in the segment, said Menon.

"More than that, it means less plastic in landfills, more dignity in rural livelihoods and higher food safety on our table," he added.

The disposable and catering supplies market is largely dominated by private labels of retailers such as DMart Ready and local vendors. Lately, brands including Origami and Beco have also ventured into the space.

(The story was updated with additional details.)