About FRENVI
FRENVI and the circular bioeconomy
In 2017, two Indian engineering students, Abhi and Phani, met while studying in Germany. In response to the EU ban on single-use plastics they developed the idea for waste-free tableware solutions—in particular, edible cutlery and reusable tableware.
“We share a great enthusiasm for technology, but nature and sustainability are also very important to us. We both wanted to take the plunge into self-employment in order to realize our visions.” Abhi and Phani
Find out more about us in an interview with Mannheim My Future featuring Abhi and our COO Stefan Beyerle.
From idea to innovation
As the first purely non-German founding team, the BMWi supported the start-up idea from August 2019 with an EXIST start-up grant, which led to the founding of FRENVI (FRiendly ENVIronment) in December 2019 and the filing of a patent in January 2020 – shortly before the Covid pandemic broke out.
As a young, engineering-focused green tech start-up, we rarely sought the limelight, preferring to focus on research and development, but we still won various awards – including the MEXI Award 2021 from Roche AG in the technology category, which came with a prize of €10,000, and the audience award at the Naturvision Congress 2021.
New paths for sustainable innovation
After the implementation of the self-developed Continuous Thermo Compression 3D Forming technology (CTC3DF) in Germany was not feasible due to the financial and pandemic-related situation, the FRENVI team, together with the German Investment and Development Company (DEG, now DEG Impact GmbH), decided to to move to India to set up the first production site using FRENVI’s CTC3DF process in Bangalore with the support of the DEG’s DeveloPPP funding program and to start operations after 18 months.
This enabled the production of compostable tableware, edible cutlery, reusable tableware, environmentally friendly straws, and other sustainable, plastic-free alternatives.
Innovation meets sustainability: FRENVI in Wiesloch
With the momentum of its first production facility and the successful launch of its business, FRENVI worked intensively in 2023 to finance its German production and research site, which will go into operation in Wiesloch in spring 2026.
In addition to the world’s largest fully automated CTC3DF plant, the company will have its own greentech research team working there. It will conduct creative research into further nature-based alternatives to single-use plastic products – such as reusable coffee cups, sustainable cutlery, environmentally friendly disposable tableware, and new concepts for edible spoons.
All in line with the “circular bioeconomy” – in the best case scenario, even actively contributing to climate protection.
Ok Ocak – Head of Finance
Would you like to leave a green footprint on the world and invest with impact? Then become part of the FRENVI journey and get in touch with us.
Ok Ocak – Head of Finance
Would you like to leave a green footprint in the world and invest with impact? Then become part of the FRENVI journey and get in touch with us.