Patna: In an effort to address plastic pollution and concerns over microplastics in food and beverages, an engineer from Bihar’s Muzaffarpur district has developed an eco-friendly alternative to single-use plastic products using discarded corn husks.
Naz Ozaier, a resident of Muradpur under Chhitrouli Panchayat in the Kurhani block of Muzaffarpur, has developed a range of products from corn husks, including tea cups, plates, bowls, glasses, straws and bags. His innovation aims to reduce dependence on single-use plastic while giving agricultural waste a practical and commercial use.
After years of research and experimentation, Ozaier received a patent from the Government of India for his technology. He subsequently established a startup named MNO Swadeshi India Pvt. Ltd. and began production, creating opportunities for local employment and additional income for farmers.
Five Years of Research Led to Corn Husk Innovation
Ozaier said the journey involved nearly five years of research into alternatives to conventional plastic utensils, whose potential health and environmental effects concerned him.
Initially, he experimented with bamboo, banana fibres and papaya fibres before turning his attention to corn husks. Through repeated trials, he developed a technique to heat and mould the husks at a specific temperature to create different products.
According to Ozaier, once the corn husks are moulded into shape, the resulting utensils retain their form. The technique allows an agricultural by-product that is often discarded to be used as a raw material for making everyday items.
He filed the patent application for the technology on March 1, 2019, and received the official patent certificate on February 21, 2024. Following the patent approval, he established MNO Swadeshi India Pvt. Ltd. on May 26, 2026, and started production.
Read also: Bihar Introduces 100-Point Bank Ranking System; IDFC First Bank Tops List with 74 Points
Rural Development Department Promotes Eco-Friendly Innovation
The Bihar Rural Development Department is encouraging rural innovation under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) and the Lohia Swachh Bihar Abhiyan.
According to department officials, efforts are being made to familiarise people with the technology and process of converting discarded organic materials, including corn husks, into environmentally friendly products.
With Ozaier’s support, local people are also being trained in the process. The initiative aims to promote the productive use of agricultural waste, encourage local entrepreneurship and create livelihood opportunities in rural areas.
By connecting agricultural waste management with small-scale manufacturing, the initiative seeks to support both environmental protection and rural economic development.
Target to Replace 100 Single-Use Plastic Products in 10 Years
Ozaier plans to replace at least 100 products currently made from single-use plastic with environmentally friendly alternatives over the next 10 years.
For manufacturing cups, plates and other items, he purchases corn husks directly from farmers at approximately ₹1 to ₹2 per kilogram. This creates an additional source of income from material that might otherwise be discarded.
The reported production cost of an individual product is around 45 to 50 paise, while items such as bowls are sold for approximately ₹2 per piece.
Ozaier said the business currently generates an annual net income of around ₹5 lakh. His small manufacturing unit also provides employment to eight local people, contributing to livelihood generation in the area.
The model demonstrates how agricultural by-products can be converted into marketable goods while creating opportunities for farmers, entrepreneurs and local workers.
Bihar Initiative Links Waste Management with Rural Employment
The corn husk-based product initiative combines waste utilisation, environmental awareness and rural enterprise development. Instead of treating corn husks as agricultural waste, the technology uses them as a raw material for manufacturing everyday alternatives to plastic.
The approach also has the potential to encourage local skill development and small-scale production. Training rural residents in the manufacturing process could help expand the adoption of the technology and create further employment opportunities.
The initiative is being promoted in the context of the state’s efforts to encourage innovation under rural sanitation programmes and improve the productive use of agricultural resources.
Rural Development Minister Praises the Innovation
Bihar Rural Development and Information and Public Relations Minister Shravan Kumar praised the initiative, describing the conversion of corn husks into eco-friendly utensils as an example of rural innovation.
He said initiatives of this kind could contribute to making Bihar more self-reliant by encouraging rural talent and adding value to agricultural waste.
The minister noted that such technology could help reduce the use of single-use plastic, support environmental cleanliness and generate new employment opportunities in rural areas.
He added that the state government remains committed to extending support to promising entrepreneurs and promoting schemes that encourage value addition to agricultural waste.
About MNO Swadeshi India Pvt. Ltd.
MNO Swadeshi India Pvt. Ltd. is a startup founded by engineer Naz Ozaier on May 26, 2026. Based on his patented corn husk-moulding technology, the enterprise manufactures eco-friendly alternatives to selected single-use plastic products, including cups, plates, bowls, glasses, straws and bags. The initiative aims to make productive use of agricultural waste, support farmers through the purchase of corn husks and create employment opportunities for local residents.
