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SecondEngineer Devakumar Narayanan has been working in the UAE for four years, living a fast-paced life in a 9-to-5 corporate job. Soon after his wife Saranya joined him, the grueling pace and lifestyle of the job gave the couple a strong desire to return to their home country of Kerala.
So in 2018, they returned to Kasaragod with the idea of starting a business.
“We had always had this plan to start our own business but weren’t sure what it would be. So we started brainstorming ideas that matched our interests. One thing we were sure of was that it should be a company with a good cause and a sense of social responsibility business,” said Saranya better india.
After deciding to go into manufacturing, they started looking for locally available natural ingredients, which could be their unique selling point.
“After considering many options, we narrowed it down to areca nut leaf sheaths, locally known as Paala. A large number of areca nut trees are grown in Kasaragod, making the produce easier to procure. Additionally, they are eco-friendly, biodegradable and plastic Good alternative,” Devakumar said.
After finalizing the idea, they began searching for a brand name that was meaningful and aligned with their business goals. “Betel leaf sheaths can be a good alternative to plastic and paper. We named it ‘Papla’ to incorporate the concept of ‘use less paper, use less plastic’,” Saranya added.
Launched in 2018, Papla currently produces products ranging from tableware to bags grown from betel leaf sheaths and has a monthly turnover of Rs 2 lakh.
Use less paper and less plastic
Devakumar and Saranya soon set up a small manufacturing unit near their house in Madikai panchayat, which now employs seven people, Devakumar said.
“Our scabbards come mainly from Kasaragod and sometimes from Karnataka. We buy them after ensuring quality and pay the manufacturer based on different factors like variety, size, etc.,” he explains.
“It is collected only when the sheath falls from the tree, otherwise it is not collected,” he added.
Saranya said these sheaths are available only during the flowering season of the betel nut tree. “One of the challenges with using areca leaf sheaths is its seasonal availability. We can only source six months’ worth of product each year. Therefore, we have to ensure we have enough stock for the rest of the year. This requires us to set up a large storage space in the facility .”
Papla’s products mainly include plates, bowls, spoons and other tableware. “We have cutlery in different sizes and shapes, such as 4-inch to 10-inch plates, shallow and deep bowls, spoons, etc. We also customize them as per the requirements,” explains Devakumar.
In addition to tableware, Papla also produces handmade soaps, badges, hats, hand fans, grow bags and packaging for wedding invitations. “Grow bags are handmade. They are made by weaving the sheaths together. We cannot guarantee their longevity as the sheaths are biodegradable. We recommend using them temporarily while giving away plants that can be replanted Or saplings,” he said.
Priced between Rs 1.50 and Rs 10, these cutlery are Papla’s best-selling products. Handmade products like grow bags are sold for Rs 40 and hats for Rs 100. “We take orders through the website and over the phone,” he added
Recently, the business has also launched wedding invitations printed on these leaf covers. “We use UV printing technology to print wedding invitations on sheaths instead of paper. Apart from that, the same technology is used in making event and function badges. It is a great alternative to regular plastic labels ,” Saranya said.
“Besides manufacturing our products in our micro unit, we are also helping several other local small units engaged in acre sheath processing by providing them space to sell their products. There are about 20 similar units in the area and are struggling to find markets to sell their products. So we help them improve the quality of their products through training and assistance and finding markets,” she added.
The couple said they also export their products on a small scale and plan to eventually expand into handicrafts.
“Our goal now is to develop a wider international market for our products. In addition, we want to try different natural raw materials, such as banana fiber, coconut shells, etc.,” she said.
To place an order, visit their website or contact them at 6235726264
(Edited by Divya Setu)
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