Edible Cutlery: A Tenable Solution to the Plastic Menace, Bolstering the Global Economy

150 years after the birth of plastics, today, it is virtually irreplaceable. Plastics is and will always continue to be a cheaper option. There is no approximation of how much of this will be recycled. Studies have shown that significant amounts end up in rivers, oceans and landfills. Demand is primarily driven by institutional sales such as hotels, airlines, weddings and offices that use large amounts of single-use plastic materials. Compared to plastics, the products offered by startups will be more expensive, at the moment. However, costs should come down over time as scale increases and government incentives become available. Plastic refuse is a towering problem confronting the world, but recycling solutions are not many, and funding is scarce. This chapter highlights a wide range of innovative efforts to find alternatives to plastic cutlery. The goal is to transform into a circular economy in which stakeholders—civil society, government, and private sector—need to be involved. 2023 has been declared the International Year of Millets, and investments in millet edible cutlery is a good way for many countries to establish themselves as the global center of millets. Powerhouse of nutrients, millet cultivation can empower smallholder farmers and promote biodiversity.