After sugarcane is crushed for its juice, a fibrous residue called bagasse is left behind. At sugar mills, heaps of this material can be seen awaiting their next use. While some bagasse is already used to generate energy or make paper, it also holds potential for products that can replace plastic — and even become a source of protein.

Across India, entrepreneurs and young innovators are exploring these possibilities. From compostable plates and takeaway boxes to fermentation-based protein, here are four ventures finding new value in sugarcane waste.

1. Chuk: Turning sugarcane fibre into compostable tableware

When Ved Krishna returned to his family’s paper business in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, he began questioning the environmental cost of conventional food packaging. Plastic-coated and laminated materials were widely used, yet their disposal posed a growing problem. In 2017, his family’s company, Pakka Limited, launched Chuk to offer an alternative.

The brand uses bagasse, the fibrous residue left after sugarcane juice extraction, to manufacture plates, bowls, food containers and other tableware. The fibre is processed into pulp, which is then moulded into finished products. The resulting tableware is designed to be sturdy enough for everyday food service while offering an alternative to conventional plastic and Styrofoam disposables.

Chuk’s products are used by food and........

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