Photo Credit:expressbuzz.com

The stalls at All-India Buyer Seller Meet Cum Exhibition of handmade products in Kochi suggested a solution to the cutting of trees for making paper.Paper can be made not only from pulp but also from cloths, banana fibre, palm fibre, eucalyptus leaves, jute fibre and cotton waste, said the organisers of the exhibition.The opening session was inaugurated by Sebastian Paul MP on Thursday.The objective of the exhibition is to create an awareness about the importance of the handmade paper and fibre products among the people and creating employment in the rural areas, said Khadi and Village Industries Commission stat e officer Pradeep.Twenty-five stalls from across the country displayed a variety of handmade ecofriendly products such as bags, gift papers, envelopes, photo frames, notebooks, painting papers, toys, greeting cards.Such papers will last more than 200 years, he said.`Athulya’, one of the firms which took part in the exhibition, uses its profit for the rehabilitation of the physically challenged children of the employees in the Tata Tea estate.It also makes bio-degradable innovative products from wastes like lemon grass

, pineapple leaves, onion peel, flower petals etc, said Sankara Narayanan of Munnar.Vimalayalam, Khadi and Village Industries from Ernakulam, showcased many items.Kerala Khadi and Village Industries Commission state director K P Gopala Pothuval presided over the function.The meet will conclude on November 24.