FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Our tableware is made from rice husk and rice bran — two agricultural residues left behind during rice milling. In most Indian mills these are either burned in the open or dumped. We dry, grind and compress them into shape under heat and pressure. No plastic, no melamine, no wax coating and no synthetic binders. The natural fibres and oils in the husk hold the product together. You can read more in our note on why rice husk makes better plates.

Yes. Indian meals were our first test case. Our plates, bowls and cups hold dal, sambar, curries, rasam and gravies through a full meal without softening, warping or leaking. Tested internally at 90 °C+ for 45+ minutes — representative of a hot thali served and eaten slowly. Oil-heavy dishes like pav bhaji, paneer butter masala and biryani with raita work without issue.

In active composting conditions — a home compost bin, garden pit or industrial composter — our products break down into soil within 60–90 days. In a landfill with less oxygen the timeline is longer, but still a small fraction of plastic (400+ years) or coated paper (up to 20 years). Practical guidance here: how to dispose of Aura Farmers plates.

Yes. Our plates, bowls and cups can be reheated in a microwave. They contain no metal, no plastic and no lining that would spark or melt. 1–2 minute reheats are fine; we do not recommend extended cooking cycles. Full breakdown: microwave safety of disposable plates.

Yes. Our tableware is manufactured under food-grade conditions at our Moraiya (Ahmedabad) facility by Agrocyclex Bio Products Private Limited (CIN: U32900GJ2026PTC171974). FSSAI and lab test documentation can be shared on request — WhatsApp or email us and our team will send the current certification set. Context on what FSSAI covers for disposable tableware: FSSAI certification explained.

Bagasse (sugarcane pulp) plates are typically bleached and may use PFAS-based water resistance coatings. Paper plates often use PE or wax coatings that prevent composting. Aura Farmers products use no bleaching, no PFAS and no coating — just rice husk and bran. Result: sturdier feel, no chemical taste, and home-compostable within 60–90 days.

For a standard meal — even one with gravy — no. The fibre density and natural oils resist absorption for 45–60 minutes, which covers any normal serving. For very liquid-heavy uses (soup kitchens, rasam-heavy thalis held for 2+ hours) we recommend our bowl instead of the flat plate.

Stored sealed in a cool, dry place away from direct moisture and sunlight, unused products keep for 12–18 months without any degradation. Humidity is the only enemy — the same thing that makes them compostable later makes them react to damp storage. Practical storage tips: storage gotchas.

Retail: no minimum — a single pack is fine. Bulk/institutional: varies by SKU, typically 500–1,000 units for standard stock and 5,000+ for custom branding. Share your use case on WhatsApp and we will send the applicable MOQ and a quote.

Yes. For serious bulk enquiries (events, canteens, cafes, caterers) we send a small sample kit so you can test heat, strength and presentation before committing. Share delivery address on WhatsApp; sample handling fees may apply depending on order intent.

Yes. We offer debossed logos on plates and bowls, and custom sleeve/packaging for bulk orders above threshold quantities. Suited to restaurants, cafes, event caterers, corporate canteens and wedding mandaps. Share your logo file (SVG/AI/PDF preferred) and order volume for options and pricing.

WhatsApp us with: (1) product type and quantity, (2) delivery date and pincode, (3) whether custom branding is needed. You will receive a written quote within 24 hours on business days. Starter checklists: bulk procurement checklist, Indian wedding demand patterns and corporate canteen guide.

Per piece, Aura Farmers sits above thin plastic and unbranded paper, and roughly at parity with quality bagasse at comparable sizes — while outlasting both on heat and structural strength. We discuss true cost per cover for events in detail. For bulk contracts we quote net-of-GST per piece with tiered breakpoints.

Retail: UPI, standard payment gateways. Bulk: advance payment on first order; net 15 or net 30 credit terms for repeat institutional clients after the first two cycles. Invoices issued in the name of Agrocyclex Bio Products Private Limited with GST.

Yes — pan-India. Metros (Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata, Pune, Ahmedabad) receive orders in 5–7 business days. Tier-2 and tier-3 cities typically 7–10 days. Remote pincodes may take up to 12 days; we will flag this at the quote stage.

Standard bulk SKUs in stock: dispatch within 2 business days, delivery as above. Custom-branded orders: 10–14 days production + transit. For wedding/event windows we recommend locking dispatch 3 weeks ahead of the event date for safety.

COD is not available for bulk orders — we work on advance/credit terms for institutional clients. For retail, COD may be available on select pincodes via our shipping partners; this is confirmed at the order stage.

Report damage within 48 hours of delivery with photos of the outer carton and the affected units (WhatsApp or email). We replace damaged units at no cost or refund the affected value — your choice. Full terms in our refund policy and shipping policy.

Paper plates often use bleach and chemical coatings — they feel eco-friendly but leave a chemical footprint. Plastic is plastic, end of conversation. Our tableware starts as agricultural waste that would otherwise be burned (contributing to India's seasonal air pollution) and ends as compost. No trees cut, no petrochemicals, no microplastics. Context: greenwashing in eco tableware.

Yes. Break the plate into 4–6 pieces, bury in soil or a home compost bin with normal kitchen waste. Full breakdown in 60–90 days. No special compost turner or industrial facility needed. Detailed walkthrough: how to dispose and composting at event venues.

They still biodegrade — just slower than in active composting, because landfills are oxygen-poor. Expected 6–12 months in typical Indian landfill conditions versus 400+ years for plastic and 15–20 years for coated paper. No microplastics, no toxic leachate.

From rice mills across Gujarat, Punjab, Haryana and Maharashtra. These mills normally burn husk or dump bran as low-value byproduct. Our offtake gives them a second revenue line while pulling material out of the open-burning cycle that drives seasonal air pollution in North India.

Yes. Our products are plastic-free and compostable, placing them outside the SUP ban scope. Venues, caterers and events looking to meet the 2025 enforcement uplift can use Aura Farmers as a compliant default. Context: plastic ban enforcement in 2025 and plastic-free events.

Aura Farmers is the consumer brand of Agrocyclex Bio Products Private Limited (CIN: U32900GJ2026PTC171974), incorporated in Gujarat, India. Our manufacturing unit is at Moraiya, Ahmedabad. Founder and Managing Director: Hitendra Singh. Read the story behind the name.

8-B, Satyam Industrial Estate, Bes. Zydus Research Center, Sarkhej-Bavla Road, Moraiya, Ahmedabad, Gujarat – 382213. Visits are by appointment — message on WhatsApp before travelling.

WhatsApp +91 81403 47773 (Hitendra Singh, Managing Director) or email info@aurafarmers.in. We respond within 24 hours on business days. For urgent event-related enquiries, WhatsApp gets the fastest reply.

The Aura Farmers website (aurafarmers.in) was designed and developed by Startup Savera — an independent digital studio that builds brand-led D2C and B2B sites for Indian sustainability ventures.