Disposables

What is bagasse?

Bagasse is the leftover fibre of sugarcane - a natural waste product from the production of sugar. Approximately 79% of all of the world’s sugar is made from sugarcane farming. That’s a LOT of bagasse produced–about 3 tons of bagasse for every 10 tons of sugarcane processed.

What is bagasse used for?

Since bagasse is merely a byproduct of sugar production, there isn’t much use for it. The most common use for bagasse is to burn it as a fuel source. Undesirably, burning bagasse releases large amounts of CO2, a major greenhouse gas, back into the atmosphere. Bagasse has also seen limited use as animal feed. Of course, bagasse can also be utilised for its fibre to make pulp and paper products. This process dates back to 1937 using a method invented by Clarence Birdseye. An additional benefit of making disposable products out of bagasse is that it means that less is being burned and fewer greenhouse gases are released

Is sugarcane a renewable resource?

Yes! Sugarcane is considered a rapidly renewable resource in line with the same classification as bamboo and cork. Rapidly renewable resources can be regenerated below 10 years. Sugarcane can regrow completely in just 10-18 months making it a greener alternative to paper and wood.

Will using bagasse products reduce my carbon footprint?

Almost certainly! Sugarcane is one of the best plants for reducing the amount of CO2 in our atmosphere. That’s because of something called carbon sequestration - as sugarcane grows, it absorbs CO2 from the air and converts it into biomass. Compared to almost any other plant, sugarcane absorbs more CO2 per hectare during its growth. Researchers have even suggested that expanding the production of sugarcane could reduce global CO2 emissions by as much as 5.2%.

Is it possible to customise it?

We don't provide customisation on bagasse products. You can go with the stickers, and sleeves or use the branded kraft paper bags for the deliveries.

What is the heat tolerance of sugarcane (bagasse) products?

Sugarcane is heat tolerant and is much better than paper it can sustain up to 200 degrees Fahrenheit (93 degrees Celsius) and is even microwavable and freezable. Just as with paper, extremely hot food might cause sugarcane to lose some of its strength, but it is one of the best compostable food service materials that can handle hot temperatures.

Can sugarcane (bagasse) products handle liquids and grease?

Lined sugarcane products will hold liquids well and are grease and cut resistant. Unlined sugarcane are great too! It may be more likely to lose strength when used with very hot foods or liquids.

Can I put sugarcane (bagasse) products in the oven?

We do not recommend that sugarcane be used in ovens. Sugarcane fibre is heat tolerant and is both microwave and freezer safe.

Can I put sugarcane (bagasse) products in the freezer?

Paper and Sugarcane products can go in the freezer. Although they are not airtight, freshness and freezer burn can become issues if left there for too long.

What makes bagasse more eco-friendly than regular paper?

Interesting question! For beginners, regular paper is made from trees, which take at least 20 years to grow back, whereas sugarcane can be renewed in 10-18 months. Paper products contribute to 10% of deforestation globally, which has dramatic negative consequences on biodiversity, ecosystems and the environment. Further, the production of bagasse products is much more efficient. It requires only 1.5 tons of sugarcane pulp to produce 1 ton of bagasse paper as opposed to the 5 tons of wood needed to produce 1 ton of normal paper.

Are bagasse products must be less durable than regular paper?

No! Bagasse products are remarkably durable. Bagasse fibres are naturally robust and resistant to grease as well as moisture. Unlike most plastic plates, they are microwave safe and can easily withstand temperatures up to 220°F, which is hotter than boiling water.

How are Al Tabee’ah plates made?

After sugarcane is harvested, the cane juice is extracted to be refined into sugar. What's left behind is raw sugarcane fibre or bagasse. This fibre is then purified, mixed in large vats and, extracted into moulds to become plates, platters, and bowls. The plates are then dried and, packaged for you to purchase and enjoy!

Is bagasse safe to eat off?

Yes! Our products are 100% food safe and may even be far safer than other disposable plate options. Plastic and foam plates, for instance, can release toxic chemicals into food. When heated, they leech small amounts of styrene, which is proven to be a carcinogen (capable of causing cancer) in humans.

Is bagasse compostable?

Yes! One of the main advantages of bagasse fibre over other disposable products is that it will NOT pollute the environment for decades or even centuries to come. Bagasse products as an alternative biodegrade quickly and release no harmful chemicals.

Can I compost bagasse at home?

Yes! Bagasse products make a great carbon-rich addition to your backyard compost pile. All of our bagasse products have been certified by TUV Austria for home composability, meaning they will safely and quickly break down in your home compost pile. You should always check for the home compost certification mark before buying bagasse products.

Why not use other disposable plates?

Most other one-use plates have drastic negative environmental impacts and could be harmful to you, your family or the planet we all inhabit.

Plantables

Plantable seed paper is eco-friendly in what way?

Seed paper is mostly made from treeless paper. Woodless paper is made from cotton rags, and linen rags and is very eco-friendly. Plantable paper is chemical-free, so the seeds will last longer on the paper. The handmade paper also decomposes fast enough in the soil to germinate the seeds. Thus, these paper is both eco-friendly and sustainable.

What is the purpose of seed paper?

Seed paper in literal terms is seed-embedded paper. If you put torn pieces of this paper in the soil and water it, it will sprout, and the seedlings will start to sprout. Ultimately, the paper crumbles, allowing the seedlings to develop into mature plants.

What is the cost of a plantable seed paper?

Compared to sinful paper, plantable seed-embedded papers might cost you an extra buck, but in every other aspect, it is cheaper.

How effective is seed paper?

Plantable seed paper works well with strong seeds like basil. Cut the seed paper into small pieces, plant them in the soil, and water them. Seeds should germinate within 10-15 days.

What is the shelf life of seed paper?

To get the best germination results, seed paper should be planted within 24 months. It will still grow beyond that, however, the germination rates will decline. Store the paper in a cool, dry place, to preserve the germination rates if possible.

What is the biodegradability of plantable seed paper?

The paper is biodegradable and made from post-consumer material causing no harm to harmless to trees and has seeds embedded in it. When you plant the seeds in a pot, the seeds will grow and become paper compost. All that you get is flowers, herbs, or vegetables, with no wastage whatsoever.

Can I request custom colours?

Yes, we can make custom coloured paper with safe colouring options which will not hamper the quality of germination – either matching it to a pantone number or a sample provided by you. For more information on custom orders please contact us by email, online form or WhatsApp.

Can I get seeds that are native to where I live?

Seed size and ease of germination are important when choosing custom seeds. Please contact us to determine if the desired custom seed will work in the plantable paper.

Can I get a printing proof?

Yes, you can. As the sample is ready, we will let you know through e-mail and if need a hard copy of the sample we will courier it to your address on your charge. We work with you closely on your designs before we begin printing to avoid any possible issues.

How can I place plantable paper product order?

Please use the method that you prefer – place your order for plantable paper, invitations, stationery and seed paper gift items through this website, and order online for retail items. For bulk and custom orders, please click here.

Can I make design changes once it's been submitted?

We try to accommodate any changes you wish to make to your order whenever possible. Once the order has been placed online any changes need to be requested by phone or email before the order is processed, so that we can make the change before your order goes into production. Changes to custom and bulk orders are not possible.

Can you make my photo or artwork better quality?

If your raster-based file (JPG, GIF, PNG, TIF) is provided to us with low resolution, there is no way for us to improve the quality for you. If you share a high-quality file (300 dpi or higher at the correct size), then we can promise high-quality print results. Logo and graphic files are best suited as PDFs with the original elements in vector format for optimal results at any size.

Can we have the text in any language other than English?

If you can provide the text just how you wish it to appear, we will happily try to accommodate you. Please contact us to discuss the best ways to submit your text.

How do I request a quote?

We will gladly work on a quote for your specific plantable paper needs. Please email, Whatsapp or fill out the form requesting a quote.

How will I know my order has shipped?

Once an order is processed, you will receive an email with your tracking number once the order has shipped.

Is it safe to ship the paper to other countries?

Yes. Al Tabee’ah works to ensure all our shipments meet the import requirements of each country to which we ship. For our seeds to meet the import requirements, we follow the phytosanitary regulations of the country to which we are shipping.

Payments, Delivery, Transport and Returns

Why does my credit card provider charge me a fee when I purchase items from another country?

Some credit card providers apply a nominal transaction fee to international purchases. While this charge is unrelated to Al Tabee’ah, it often appears on credit card statements as International Transaction Fee – Al Tabee’ah. The transaction fee is not a charge from Al Tabee’ah; it is a charge directly from your credit card provider. If you have questions about the fee, contact your credit card provider.

What method of payment can I use?

We accept payment by Visa, Mastercard, American Express and bank transfer. For bulk and custom orders, payment mode is limited to bank transfer.

What are your delivery and transport timelines?

All our prices as stated on the website include delivery and transportation costs for the minimum quantities mentioned.

Typically, orders are processed within 2-3 business days on confirmation.

You can expect delivery of the products within 5-7 business days of placing your order on the available stock within the UAE.

For bulk orders or customisation, if the item is running low on stock than a client’s requirement or currently out of stock due to high demand, we would coordinate with the client directly to inform them about the minimum order quantity (MOQ), commercials and the timelines before an order is confirmed. An average timeline for such orders is between 4-6 weeks.

Should you or your business require a customized order, delivery and transportation costs will be mentioned within the price quotation provided by our team. We aim to deliver all products within 45 – 60 days post order confirmation depending on the size of the order. Of course, should you require the products faster, do let us know in advance, we’ll be happy to make the arrangements.

Deliveries faster than our standard delivery time will be subject to additional costs.

If you wish to manage your own transport, please inform the team formally and the quotation and production timelines will be communicated accordingly.

For further information please do not hesitate to contact us.

What can I return and when?

Returns will be accepted if:

• ou receive a faulty or defective product
• You receive a product that is different from what you ordered

Returns will NOT be accepted in the following circumstances:

• Custom-made or hand-made products cannot be returned as these products are approved prior to shipping.
• We do not permit refunds, exchanges or returns on discount/sale items or items purchased with a discount code.

Conditions for returning products:

• Returns and exchanges may be requested by emailing info@altabeeah.com. Your email must contain the name of the product and the order ID number, along with a detailed description of the nature of the concern. In the case of damages or manufacturing defects, please also include a photograph of the damaged product, the invoice number and the barcode on the package.
• Return or exchange requests must be sent within 2 days of receiving the product.
• Products must be returned unsoiled and/or in the original condition, they were received in, along with any bills, tags, labels etc.
• Brand packaging should be intact.
• Please ship your return/exchange order to the shipping address communicated to you via email. This tends to vary based on the product. The cost of return shipping is your responsibility.
• If a customer fails to meet our returns standards, such as if products are soiled, inner packaging is opened/unsealed or missing tags, the products will be returned to the customer and the cost of return shipping will be borne by the customer.
• In cases when Al Tabee’ah is at fault (e.g., in the case of a manufacturing defect), we will contact you to arrange a pickup. In all other cases, please note that we may only process exchanges and returns once you have shipped us the product.
• We can only process refunds for exchanges or returns once we have received the product.
• Exchanges are subject to the discretion of a friendly and diligent team at Al Tabee’ah.
• Refunds are processed within 30 days of receiving the returned goods.