Watch: Bengaluru Professor Turns Fallen Coconut Leaves Into A Global Eco-Friendly Straw Brand
Watch: Bengaluru Professor Turns Fallen Coconut Leaves Into A Global Eco-Friendly Straw Brand
Sunbird Straws now produces 7 lakh biodegradable straws a month while empowering rural women and reducing plastic waste.
What began as a professor’s curiosity during a routine walk through Christ University has grown into one of India’s most innovative sustainability success stories. Saji Varghese, an Associate Professor of English in Bengaluru, noticed fallen coconut leaves scattered across campus and recalled a discussion about the escalating threat of single-use plastics. The question struck him: could these leaves become an alternative to plastic straws?
That small idea evolved into Sunbird Straws, a Made-in-India innovation that transforms naturally shed coconut leaves into durable, biodegradable drinking straws. In 2020, Saji teamed up with his students, Chirag MG and Sandeep U, to formally launch the startup. Today, the enterprise manufactures 7 lakh straws every month, powered by a team of 115 rural women across Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
The science behind the idea is elegantly simple. Coconut leaves are long and narrow, making them easy to roll into tubes. They also contain a natural wax coating, giving each straw water-resistance and anti-fungal properties without any chemical treatment. This natural shine is also what inspired the brand’s name, the sunbird, known for its glossy feathers and slender beak shaped to sip nectar.
Sunbird Straws has grown far beyond a campus discovery. Tens of thousands of straws are produced daily and supplied to hotels, cafés and retailers across India, with exports now reaching more than 10 countries. The impact is threefold: reducing plastic waste, preventing open burning of leaves, and creating sustainable livelihoods for rural women.
The startup was also incubated under IIMB’s Impact Orbit programme, where mentors helped shape a brand strategy that is enabling the company to scale globally.
As the world pushes toward plastic alternatives, Sunbird Straws stands out not only for innovation but for inclusivity, turning a discarded natural resource into an eco-friendly product that protects the environment and uplifts communities.
