Utensils for the earth

Unfortunately, the subsequent littering that tends to accompany many of these limes has created pollution and flooding problems in our country.

Tired of seeing plastic and Styrofoam items on their favourite beaches two local businessmen, Raul Fabres and Robert Thompson, decided they had to find a “green” alternative.

After researching the biodegradable options, they decided wooden utensils made from the fast-growing birch tree were the answer.

“Original Woodware” (OW) was established in December 2009 but the product did not hit supermarket shelves until late August 2010. During those seven months, the two-man operation finalised the design and manufacture of the package at a local plant then went on a marketing/sales pitch to every major supermarket in Trinidad. The company is based in Aranjuez.

While in no way condoning littering, managing director Fabres said they were conscious of the bad habit of many ‘Trinis’ when choosing birch wood as a source material.

Birch species are generally small to medium-size trees or shrubs found mostly in temperate climates. Birch wood is fine-grained and pale in colour, often with a satin-like sheen.

The bark from a birch tree was popular with many Native American and First Nations because of its light weight, flexibility and the ease with which it could be stripped from fallen trees. Birch was often used for the construction of strong, waterproof but lightweight canoes, bowls and wigwams.

“The product we have, if left on a beach or in a river, will biodegrade in three months. Leave a plastic spoon or knife on a beach or in a river, you’re talking a 100 years. Our cutlery is 100 percent birch wood. There are no glues, no toxins added. Although OW is a business, it is doing something for the (national) community. We can make things better if everybody just puts a hand and contributes in some way,” Fabres said.

The business partners tried to source birch wood locally but were unsuccessful and ended up signing a contract with a tree farm in Indonesia.

Fabres told Business Day Original Woodware is available in retail packs of 25 for $15 to $18. Each pack contains one type of utensil. So if shoppers want a combination of spoons, knives and forks, they have to buy multiple packs.

However, this is being addressed and Fabres hopes to have variety packs on shelves by year’s end. Each pack would include eight spoons, eight knives and of course eight forks.

Wholesale packs containing 100 of each wooden utensil are also available for approximately $28. To order these, you can send an email to originalwoodware@gmail.com

Retail packs of Original Woodware are available mainly in western Trinidad at Tru Valu, Food Giant, West B’s, Farmers’ Market, Artie’s and at Peake’s Home Store.

The company hopes to convince purchasers at other major supermarkets to do the same. Once the hurdle of skeptical purchasers at supermarkets had been overcome, Fabres said they then had to contend with curious shoppers who chose to open the cardboard packs to see what Original Woodware was all about, even though a description and email contact are part of the packaging.

“People wanted to touch it, feel it and see it, before they bought it. So we decided to change strategy and start by marketing Original Woodware to the people who would appreciate the product for what it is, in terms of the environment,” he said.

Fabres and Thompson turned to the Environmental Management Authority for help. They put the men in contact with hikers and other special interest groups.

As the product gained publicity among environmentally-conscious people, sales increased between 30 and 40 percent each month in the last quarter of 2010.

Fabres credits a target-specific marketing strategy for this, which has had the added benefit of less destroyed packages left on supermarket shelves by curious and inconsiderate shoppers.

“Hence the reason I attended the first ever National Conference for Environmental Management at UWI (St Augustine) on January 21. Everybody that came up to the table appreciated our product,” he said.

There’s another reason why Fabres feels optimistic about the future.

One of TT’s most popular mas bands and event management companies, Island People, has replaced its order of plastic utensils with one for Original Woodware for all of its Carnival 2011 events.

“Derek Lewis, who owns Island People, was very instrumental in getting this together. He is very excited about a product he can promote which would help people understand they do not need to litter TT. We can have fun but at the same time be a little conscious of the environment,” he said.

Original Woodware’s managing director also expects increased sales from this promotion.

“There are probably going to be 30,000 to 40,000 people using our product by the end of Carnival. Later on, when they see it in the grocery, they’re likely to say ‘OK I used that at this party, let’s buy this instead of plastic.’”

Fabres and Thompson are focused on establishing their product as the preferred choice in disposable utensils in TT but they are also planning for the future.

Although Fabres would not say what they are working on, he hinted to Business Day that it would be suited to the needs of institutions.