The Idea

Hampi’s natural leaf plates are based on a simple but brilliant idea: use naturally shed leaves to create a whole range of natural design tableware. Hampi plates are produced by heat pressing naturally shed leaves of trees grown in tropical countries. The process uses no chemicals or waxes. It’s 100% natural.

How did we get started?

The technique has been developed in the south of India, where recycling is a natural way of life. But being smart about using natural resources and making the most of what nature has to offer is a good strategy for people anywhere in the world.

In fact, that’s how we got started. While attending a sumptuous Indian wedding, Vikram (an Indian) and Frederic (a Dutchie) were standing in line for the buffet (it's not easy to have all the 1400 odd wedding guests seated) and Frederic’s eye wandered from the delicious food to the stacks of natural leaf plates at the front of the buffet. “What’s that?” he asked, and Vikram confessed he never had seen the plates before. “Let’s find out,” he said. And that’s how they ended up, just a few months later, pitching the Hampi plates to curious and interested beach club chefs along the sunny beaches of Netherlands. It didn’t take for long before they found a chef who, while holding the plates in his hands, looked up at the sun and said: “They’re great! When can I have 5000 of these?”

What's next?

Since 2008 many catering companies, summer festivals and restaurants have been using the plates and without fail their guests were delighted. Recently the Raaga design collection was nominated for the Toon van Tuijl Designprijs 2010, a prize for Dutch design that is produced in developing economies. The Rotterdam Historical Museum will be displaying the plates in an exhibit on Food and Eating through the ages, opening in October 2010.

In January 2010 Hampi’s natural leaf plates were nominated for the Dutch Horecava Innovation Award 2010. In 2009 Hampi plates were showcased at a Design Fair in Korea.

Hampi plates are being sold now in France, Italy and the Netherlands. A smart solution invented in small Indian villages is now gearing up to revolutionize Europe.