Kolkata-based Amwoodo to set up second manufacturing plant in South
Kolkata-based Amwoodo, which produces plastic-free alternatives from bamboo, plans to set up its second manufacturing unit in southern India, most probably Karnataka, soon.
Amwoodo’s Founder and Director Agni Mitra told businessline that it would be a state-of-the-art facility to produce 10 tonnes of bamboo products. This will complement the company’s 30,000 sq ft area manufacturing unit in West Bengal.
“We plan to begin sourcing from southern and western parts of the country. We will begin to source bamboo from Maharashtra, Karnataka and Chattisgarh through different farmer producer organisations (FPOs),” Mitra told businessline in an online interaction.
Amwoodo co-founder and director Agni Mitra
Amwoodo, which works with 17 FPOs and 11 Association of Producer Organisations (APOs) in eastern parts of the country, procures bamboo for manufacturing products in Bengal from Assam, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya and Nagaland, he said.
Cutting logistics costs
“We source bamboo from sustainable plantations in North-East and East India regions, which are renowned for high-quality bamboo. Processing is carried out in strategically located facilities close to these areas, reducing logistics costs and environmental impact,” the company’s founder said.
Mitra, who was helped by Avijit Rajak and Sourav Dey to launch the company in 2019, said bamboo can be a solution to global deforestation. “It grows rapidly — up to 3 feet in a day — and can be harvested without killing the plant, making it a sustainable alternative to traditional timber. It regenerates naturally, sequesters carbon efficiently, and improves soil health,” the company’s founder said.
Amwoodo, which advocates for bamboo as a renewable resource to combat deforestation and reduce dependence on conventional wood, has recently launched a direct-to-consumer marketplace “Ecoconsious”. Its objective is to create a one-stop shop for eco-friendly lifestyle products.
“It is integrated with the company’s existing eCommerce brands — Imeco, Dencrus, and Shaveco — under a unified platform. The marketplace offers sustainable daily-use products, emphasising reduction in plastic dependency,” said Mitra.
Sustainable alternatives
Amwoodo, launched during the Covid pandemic and inspired by the Mauritanian word for “I am sustainable”, provide employment to 1,200 people directly and indirectly.
It collaborates with bamboo farmers and artisans in the North-East and East, providing training, fair compensation and sustainable livelihoods. “By involving local communities in the value chain, the company not only revives traditional crafts but also ensures artisans have a steady income. This fosters regional development while preserving cultural heritage,” said Mitra.
Bamboo-based products act as sustainable alternatives to single-use plastics, significantly reducing the environmental burden. Bamboo is a carbon-negative material and by promoting its use, Amwoodo offsets carbon emissions and supports eco-friendly practices, the company’s founder said.