How to setup a Leaf Plate making unit by Industree Foundation
About the Solution
This playbook by the Industree Foundation provides a comprehensive technical and operational guide for establishing a decentralized, community-led leaf plate manufacturing enterprise. It details the entire value chain from sustainable leaf collection and hand-stitching at village-level spokes to mechanized pressing, quality control, and packaging at hub units (Business Excellence Centers). The model emphasizes scalable production using hydraulic pressing machines to create high-quality, biodegradable plates that meet modern market demands for stiffness and durability. Designed to empower women in tribal and forest-fringe communities, this approach combines traditional knowledge with industrial processes to generate sustainable livelihoods, reduce plastic waste, and supply both domestic and international markets with eco-friendly alternatives.
The Industree Foundation, founded in 2000 and headquartered in Bengaluru, Karnataka, has been working for over two decades to build an organized farm and off-farm enterprise ecosystem that empowers women economically in India and Ethiopia. Through its ecosystem approach, Industree addresses the root causes of poverty by supporting rural women from marginalized communities to establish collectively owned, market-linked enterprises. This model has delivered significant social and economic benefits—boosting incomes, strengthening social security, enhancing resilience to crises, and contributing to positive climate action.
They can be reached via:
Phone: 080 – 42035028
Mail: info@industree.org.in
Training
Category –Capacity Building & Training, Handholding, Knowledge Documentation & Resources,
Sub-Category – Financial Inclusion Training
Duration – N/A
Group Size – N/A
Willingness to travel – Yes
Languages Supported – N/A
Certification – N/A
Assessment – N/A
Mode – N/A
Institution / Trainer – Industree Foundation
Schedule – N/A
Short Description –
Audience: Rural entrepreneurs and small business owners, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Community groups and cooperatives, Government agencies promoting sustainable livelihoods
Objectives:
Create scalable livelihood opportunities for women through decentralized leaf plate production units.
Produce high-quality, hydraulically pressed biodegradable plates that meet modern market standards.
Establish efficient hub-and-spoke operational models to streamline collection, production, and distribution.
Enable access to broader markets by complying with quality requirements.