PNS/ROORKEE
The researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IIT Roorkee) have created edible straws made from barnyard millets, offering a healthier and more sustainable alternative to plastic and paper straws. The institute’s functionaries said that this effort, led by research scholar Tejaswini Dhanaji Patil under the guidance of Prof Kirtiraj K Gaikwad from the Functional Food Packaging Lab, Paper Technology Department, addressed two critical challenges: reducing plastic waste and offering a safer, eco-friendly option for everyday use. They further said that this innovation directly supports Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
Gaikwad said that these millet straws are designed to decompose naturally, leaving no environmental footprint.Patil said that they have crafted a product by integrating the richness of millets into the design. Hailing the achievement, the director of IIT Roorkee,Prof Kamal Kishore Pant said that his institution strove to foster innovations that address critical global challenges while leveraging India’s rich heritage and resources.
