<ul data-eligibleForWebStory="true"><li>Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw praised a Bengaluru professor, Prof Saji Varghese, for transforming coconut leaves into eco-friendly straws.</li><li>Prof Saji Varghese, an English professor at Christ University, discovered the potential of dry coconut leaves during a routine walk in 2017.</li><li>Through experimentation, he developed multi-layered, antifungal straws that can last over 12 months and stay firm in water for more than six hours.</li><li>Prof Varghese established production units in rural areas, creating job opportunities for rural women and exporting the straws to 25 countries.</li><li>His brand, SunBird, gained popularity locally and internationally, with orders from the US, Australia, and European nations.</li><li>He has received several awards for his innovative work, including the Swadeshi Startup Award 2018 and the Climate Launchpad Award 2018.</li></ul>

Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw lauds Bengaluru professor who turned coconut leaves into straws, started thriving business

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