Leef = Leaves
Plates No plates made of cardboard or plastic, but leaves plates! Inspired by a trip to India the founder Claudio Vietta of the company Leef brings the environmentally friendly disposable principle to Germany with the aim to conquer the world sustainably. In India, it is a local custom to use dried palm leaves as plates. The principle is simple: The person "borrows" the raw material from Mother Nature and after use the product can directly be reintegrated to the ecological cycle by disposing it of on the compost heap or in the compost bin. Free of additives the organic disposable tableware decomposes within 3 months.
Leef: Compostable disposable Tableware made of Palm Leaves
Disposable tableware has a bad reputation among environmentally conscious consumers. Why? – In general, it is made of plastic. And this is not resource-efficient because its raw material comes from crude oil neither climate-friendly in its production nor environmentally friendly in terms of its disposal.
But no rule without exception! Because with compostable disposable tableware of Leef ecologically oriented consumers, restaurants, hotels, catering and catering businesses get an environmentally friendly alternative to disposable tableware made of plastic and cardboard.
From the Leaf to organic Plate
The leaves are a byproduct and come from the Areca palm tree, which is commonly grown in Asia for their popular Betel nuts. In autumn, when the nuts of Areca Palm are harvested, the leaves fall to the ground, which then are only gathered, washed and must be cut. In a manufactory, the palm leaves are dried and finally pressed with steam into their final shape. After use the leaf plates are disposed in the organic waste collection bin or on the compost heap. They rot within a few months.
Earlier the leaves often were burned, thus now the new idea helps local farmers in India developing sustainable business models. In a factory about 20 employees process according to an old Indian tradition palm leaves to elegant disposable tableware.
For the leaves plates from Leef no forests are cleared or new plantations are built for the production of the plates. As far as possible, the palm leaves come preferably from mixed crop plantations.
Sustainable Value-Chain
The palm leaf plates from Leef are produced in a consistently sustainable value chain. So also the water for cleaning the leaves is saved and reused for irrigation. The entire production process of palm leaf tableware neither artificial additives nor chemical substances are used. Because sustainability begins in the production!
As non-toxic the production as fair and safe are also the working conditions for the local farmers and companies, with which Leef cooperates.
For the leaf plates consider every possible aspect of sustainability, the young entrepreneurs have developed a package of mulberry silk paper, recycled cotton fibres and rubber from natural latex. So a package made of natural materials that is fully compostable. The sticker of recycled paper is sticking with an organic adhesive. The protective packaging for the transport of palm leaf plates consists of compostable bioplastic. The optimized packaging technology reduces the carbon footprint of transport by ship per 120,000 palm leaf plates to a comparable emission of a truck driving from southern Italy to Germany.
Plates, Bowls, Cutlery, Cups – all made from Palm Tree Leaves
The product range of Leef has everything people need for a stylish (and sustainable) cookout: palm leaf plates are available in small and large versions, round or square, and also in the form of bowls for soups and other liquid foods. In future cutlery and cups supplement the assortment.
The palm leaf tableware is certified under the strict guidelines of the German Food Law (LFGB) and must be non-sprayed. This means that it is free from herbicides, fungicides, insecticides or other chemicals.
Leaves plates from Leef are suitable for being used in the fridge and for a short time in the microwave and oven (max. 2 minutes at 700 W or max. 10 min at 200° C). The “leaf dish” is water repellent; liquids are kept up to 24 hours. But it is not dishwasher safe. As a result of first experiences some customers clean the used palm leaf dishes with a damp cloth and some organic detergent. Particularly reusable it is when it is used with dry food. Thus, the organic disposable tableware becomes a reusable dish, for a long-term use, to replace conventional plastic products.
Philosophy from Leef: Fairness, Sustainability, Hygiene and Safety
For product designer Vietta it is important that the production is fair, safe and sustainable and meets the highest hygienic requirements. In order to provide the workers and their families a long-term perspective, he and his business partner Frank Marcel have founded the Leef Love e.V. association. If a restaurant, caterer, hotel or event organizer orders or sells Leef Plates based on a recommendation 5% of net sales of each product sold will go to the Leef Love e.V. lifelong, without ifs and buts.
The donation amount is topped by donating friendly companies and persons who use Leef organic disposable tableware for their event, while paying a 5% higher net price. Leef adds an extra 5%. This provides a full 10% of the net value as an investment into the education of the children of Leef Love. The Leef Love e.V. association therefore invests in the education of the children of the workers manufacturing their products. This includes support for schooling fees, school uniforms and learning materials. Because only through successful education a new generation can be helped to helping themselves.
Who wants to waive leaving large piles of garbage bags on the street after a boisterous barbecue the next day this summer, may use the organic plates of Leef. Although this does not release anyone after the barbecue in the park to collect the compostable waste, but hopefully motivates many in this way to declare hostilities against the plastic tableware waste and thus generate a valuable contribution to environmental protection.
Who wants to buy immediately the leaves plates and palm leaf tableware, can do this easily online at Greenpicks – Eco & Upcycling Market. The next party can come!