What Palmade does

Palmade is a Dubai-based manufacturer of single-use disposable cutlery and tableware produced from discarded date palm leaves combined with plant-based biopolymers. Founded in 2019 and operating a dedicated production facility in Dubai Investments Park, the company sells an 8-SKU portfolio covering forks, knives, spoons (in loose, individually wrapped, and customizable bundled-set formats), long stirrers, chopsticks, multi-diameter straws, a spork, and an ice cream spoon. All products are certified to EN 13432 (biodegradability) and ISO 17556 (compostability), are heat resistant to 80°C, and decompose within 90-180 days under commercial composting conditions. The company is privately held, employs 1-10 people, and reports 60M+ plastic items replaced, 170 tonnes of plastic removed, 9,500+ palm leaves upcycled, and 200+ active partners across hotels, cafes, retailers, and caterers in the UAE.

Palmade generates revenue through one-time bulk product sales and recurring volume supply agreements to B2B customers, predominantly UAE-based hospitality and food service operators. Pricing is quote-based, negotiated by volume, with products sold in standardized cartons (250-1,000 pieces). Distribution runs through direct domestic UAE e-commerce (3-5 business day delivery), international shipping (7-14 business days), and a direct sales motion for enterprise accounts such as hotel chains and catering groups. No public revenue figures, funding rounds, or institutional investors are disclosed.

The company's strategic posture is closely tied to the UAE's phased single-use plastics ban: the January 2024 ban on plastic shopping bags seeded early demand, and the January 2026 expansion to plastic cutlery, stirrers, straws, cups, food containers, trays, and plates directly covers the majority of Palmade's SKU set. Regulatory compliance, local manufacturing proximity, and certified compostable performance versus plastic substitutes form the core of its competitive position. Growth signals include international shipping activation, SKU expansion into new form factors (straws, chopsticks, spork), and entry into adjacent verticals such as corporate cafeterias, food delivery, and event catering.

Name

Palmade

Legal name

Palmade

Website

https://palmade.ae

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Palmade is a Dubai-based manufacturer of biodegradable disposable cutlery and tableware made from date palm leaves and plant-based biopolymers, serving UAE hotels, cafes, caterers, and retailers with EN 13432 and ISO 17556 certified products positioned for the UAE single-use plastics ban.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disposable Cutlery

NAICS

Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing (326)

SIC

Cutlery, Handtools & General Hardware (3420), Papers & Allied Products (2600)

akta.pro primary industry

Foodservice Disposables (cups, plates, bowls, trays, clamshells) (IMAMAHAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Compostable & Bio-Based Packaging (PLA/PHA, Starch Blends, Cellulose Films) (IMALAMAB), Compostable & Biodegradable Disposable Supplies (CRAJAGAK), Bio-based Packaging Materials (molded fiber, bio-barrier coatings, compostables) (IMAMALAI)

Keywords

• Biodegradable cutlery
• Disposable tableware
• Compostable utensils
• Palm leaf packaging
• Food service supplies

Headquarters

HQ city

Dubai

HQ country

United Arab Emirates

HQ region

Middle East

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Product Sales: One-time sale of biodegradable cutlery and disposable products to B2B customers (hotels, restaurants, caterers, food service businesses). Orders placed via contact form with pricing negotiated based on volume. Products sold in bulk cartons with recurring supply agreements available for regular customers.
2. Volume/Bulk Supply Agreements: Recurring supply agreements for business customers requiring regular delivery of products. Volume-based pricing tailored to customer needs. Direct communication for large and recurring orders from hotel chains and restaurant groups.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Palmade manufactures disposable cutlery and tableware made from upcycled date palm leaves combined with plant-based biopolymers. The product range includes forks, knives, spoons, individually wrapped cutlery, customizable cutlery sets, stirrers, chopsticks, straws, sporks, and ice cream spoons — sold in bulk cartons to hospitality and food service businesses across the UAE as certified biodegradable and compostable alternatives to single-use plastics.

Product overview

Palmade is a single-product manufacturer offering biodegradable disposable cutlery and tableware made from date palm leaves. The product portfolio includes eight product lines: Cutlery (Loose) — forks, knives, and spoons sold in bulk; Individually Wrapped Cutlery for hygienic single-use service; Cutlery Set — customizable multi-item packs with napkins; Stirrers (Long) for beverages; Chopsticks; Straws in multiple diameters; Spork — a combined fork-spoon; and Ice Cream Spoon. All products are certified biodegradable and compostable alternatives to single-use plastics, designed for the UAE hospitality and food service industry. Products are available in loose, individually wrapped, and bundled set formats to suit dine-in, takeaway, delivery, and events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cutlery (Loose) Eco-friendly biodegradable loose cutlery — forks, knives, and spoons — made from date palm leaves. 1,000 pieces per carton (25cm x 20cm x 10cm, 1.8 kg). Sold to hospitality and food service businesses as a single-use plastic alternative.
• Individually Wrapped Cutlery Individually wrapped biodegradable cutlery made from date palm leaves for hygienic single-use service. Size 4cm x 22cm, 6g each, 500 pieces per carton. Designed for takeaway, delivery, and foodservice where sanitary single-serve packaging is required.
• Cutlery Set Customizable multi-item cutlery sets bundled with a napkin, available in 1, 2, 3, or 4 items per pack with optional custom branding. Pack size 6.5cm x 22cm, 21.5g, 250 pieces per carton. Targeted at hospitality, catering, and event businesses needing branded disposable kits.
• Stirrers (Long) Long biodegradable stirrers (22 cm) made from natural materials, intended for tall drinks and cocktails. 1,000 pieces per carton. Sold to cafes, hotels, and beverage service businesses.
• Chopsticks Biodegradable chopsticks crafted from natural materials (date palm leaves). Size 22 cm, 15g each, 500 pieces per carton. Sold to Asian-cuisine restaurants, hotels, and catering businesses.

Quantifiable outcome

• 60+ million plastic items replaced with palm-based alternatives
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Bambu: US-based maker of bamboo-based kitchen and dining products including disposable cutlery. Comparable to Palmade in plant-based disposable cutlery category, though serves more retail-oriented channels than pure B2B foodservice.

Direct peers

• BioPak: Australia/UK-headquartered maker of compostable foodservice packaging including cutlery, straws, cups, and containers made from plant-based materials. Directly competes in the same certified compostable foodservice category as Palmade with overlapping product range and B2B hospitality customers.
• Leafware: US manufacturer of disposable plates and servingware made from fallen palm leaves (areca palm). Highly comparable to Palmade due to identical palm leaf upcycling feedstock and B2B foodservice positioning.
• Better Earth: US-based provider of compostable foodservice packaging including cutlery and straws from plant-based materials. Direct competitor in certified compostable disposable cutlery serving hospitality and food service operators.
• World Centric: US-based maker of compostable plant-based foodservice tableware including cutlery, plates, bowls, and straws. Competes in the same certified compostable foodservice segment with similar B2B hospitality and institutional customer base.
• Biotrem: Poland-based manufacturer of single-use cutlery made from wheat bran, offering a biodegradable alternative to plastic cutlery. Most comparable to Palmade in product format (cutlery), alternative-material approach, and B2B foodservice go-to-market.
• Eco-Products (Novolex): US-based compostable foodservice packaging brand owned by Novolex, offering PLA and fiber-based cutlery, plates, cups, and containers. Direct competitor in the same B2B compostable foodservice category with significantly greater scale and distribution.
• Vegware: UK-based manufacturer of compostable plant-based foodservice packaging, including cutlery and tableware. Competes head-to-head with Palmade in certified compostable (EN 13432) disposable cutlery serving hospitality and food service customers.

Broad incumbents

• Huhtamaki: Global foodservice packaging giant offering a broad portfolio including compostable and fiber-based disposable cutlery and tableware. Comparable as a much larger player in the same category; could enter Palmade's UAE market aggressively post-2026 ban.
• Pactiv Evergreen: Major North American foodservice packaging manufacturer with growing compostable and fiber-based product lines including cutlery. Comparable as a large incumbent with potential to scale compostable cutlery offerings into new regulatory-driven markets like the UAE.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/palmadebiocutlery
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/palmade-biodegradable-cutlery

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Palmade