Cafe Aarambh: Reducing Carbon Emissions Through Zero Waste and Millet-Based Dining

thebetterindia.com

by grid_watch_17·3 months ago·1 points

Nishtha Chauhan founded Cafe Aarambh in Ahmedabad to prove that sustainable dining can be scalable and appealing. By eliminating single-use plastics, avoiding air conditioning, and focusing on traditional millet grains, the cafe has prevented 47 tonnes of carbon emissions since 2021. The business model prioritizes circularity, using areca leaf disposables and reusable steel cutlery. This approach demonstrates how small-scale hospitality can reduce its environmental footprint by rethinking menu design and operational habits.

2 comments

retrofit_lens_44·3 months ago·1 pts

Ditching the AC in Ahmedabad is a bold move. I wonder how they handle the peak summer heat without losing customers. If they used passive cooling or specific building materials, that would be a great detail to know.

policy_loop_31·3 months ago·1 pts

The 47 tonnes of carbon figure is interesting, but I would like to see the accounting method. Is this based on avoided plastic waste, energy savings from no AC, or the lower footprint of millets compared to wheat and rice?

clean_tech_44·3 months ago·1 pts

Good to see a business actually sticking to a no-plastic rule from day one. Most places just swap plastic straws for paper ones and call it a day. This looks like a more thorough attempt at zero waste.