Amid heaps of trash that is being chucked regularly into the ocean, it is perhaps the single-use plastic straws that help in contributing the largest. The choking waste has not only been instrumental in polluting the oceans but has also caused severe damage to the marine life thriving in the seas. And while steel and paper straws have been in existence for quite some time, they haven't exactly caught on with the public. Vishal Laddha, CEO, co-founder and partner at Smaart Eats, spoke about 'edible rice straws' that can replace the single-use plastic straw for good.

"As we already know, paper straws come from deforestation. Cutting down trees for our guilty pleasure is definitely not a great choice," Vishal told The Bridge Chronicle. Despite not being a very sustainable alternative, he also mentioned how steel straws are not a very safe option either. "In the times of the COVID-19 pandemic, nobody would like to re-use straws that have been used by someone else," he added.

In a bid to create a line of sustainable products, the company has now created an economical, yet an eco-friendly way of replacing single-use plastic. "We made a decision to replace plastic straws with something that was being consumed widely in the Indian market -- rice," Vishal said. "Rice straws come from nature, and it also goes back to nature eventually. Because it is biodegradable! It's edible, doesn't get soggy in your drink and highly cost-effective," he added.

In fact, the organisation also mentions how you can dispose off what remains of the edible rice straw conventionally: by feeding your fish!

The company plans to introduce a line-up of bio-degradable products in the near future, as well. "Yes, a variety of sustainable products are in the pipeline for us," Vishal stated. "We are aiming to create a peripheral will be made of rice," he added.

And we can't say we're not excited!