Rusk husk is the shell of the rice grain, which is a byproduct of rice milling. These days, rice husk can be used to produce a range of products. Such products include food containers, plates, bowls, lunch boxes, cutlery, clothing hangers, and more.
In this guide, we explain the basics of using risk husk materials and list Chinese manufacturers producing risk husk products.
Supplier List
- Fujian Shenglin Huanghe Packaging
- Jiaxing Kins Eco Material
- Xiamen Ebei Import & Export
- Zhejiang Hengchuan New Material
- Dalian Sky Win Technology Development
- Ecomagicware
- Yiwu Suke E-Commerce Firm
Disclaimer
We are not affiliated with any of the companies listed in this guide. We have selected these companies based on their claimed product scope, history, certification, and capabilities.
What is rice husk?
Rice husk is the shell of the rice grain, which is usually peeled off during the rice milling process and dumped afterward. The constitution of the rice husk is typically 50% cellulose, 25%–30% lignin, 15%–20% silica, and 10%–15% moisture.
Small power plants have been using rice husks as biofuel for brick production, generating heat, steam to power rice dryers and rice mills for a long time.
In recent years, rice husk has been repurposed by some manufacturers as the raw material for both biodegradable and more eco-friendly plastic composite products, mainly as foodstuff containers, food packaging, and tableware.
Below we list two of the main benefits of rice husk when used to manufacture consumer products.
Easy accessibility, high yield, cost-effectiveness
Around 0.28 kg of rice husk is peeled off from each kilogram of milled white rice. Therefore the economic benefits and eco-property of rice husks have been studied for their potential to be used as a material in consumer products.
Natural, water-resistant, low thermal conductivity
Rice husk is composed of cellulose, lignin, lipids, proteins, silica, moisture, water, and other compounds, which allows manufacturing products that are water-resistant, and low thermal conductive.
Is there rice husk plastic composites?
Yes, composite materials are constituted of two or more materials that are of relatively dissimilar properties, such as rice husk and polypropylene, polyethylene, or other plastics and coating agents. The goal is to create a final product that is more eco-sustainable – as it uses a lower amount of plastics – and might even have better performance than the original materials.
For example, by being lighter than a product entirely made in polyethylene, and more durable than a product entirely made by pressed rice husk.
Note that the chemicals are usually added to bond the rice husks and reinforce the sturdiness of the products, but also to make the product more flexible, and durable. At the moment, most factories use a mix of 50% rice husk, and 50% plastics.
That said, plastic composites are not biodegradable.
What kind of products can be made of rice husk?
In this section, we introduce some of the most common categories of products that can be manufactured using rice husk.
Food contact products
Many companies have launched eco-friendly rice husks food contact products, such as:
- Food containers
- Plates
- Bowls
- Lunchboxes
- Cups
- Forks
- Knives
- Chopsticks
Some manufacturers claim that their products are 100% biodegradable or household-compostable because these products are purely made with rice husks and not mixed with plastics to create a composite. This is possible because the cellulose and lignin in rice husks provide a sturdy texture to the products.
A large part of the products that contain rice husk, however, also contains resins and other chemicals to enhance the product performance, such as resistance, flexibility, and durability. In this case, the products aren’t biodegradable.
General consumer products
Although at the moment most of the suppliers that specialize in rice husk products mainly offer food contact products, given its properties, rice husk can also be used to manufacture other consumer products such as:
- Toys
- Clothing hangers
- Home accessories
Building materials
The cellulose component of rice husk and rice straw make them ideal materials to build fiberboards for construction purposes. Typically, shredded rice husks are mixed with resins before going through other production processes such as hydraulic press and drying until the fiberboards are made.
The fiberboards that can be made of rice husk composite includes:
- Medium-density fiberboard (MDF)
- High-density fiberboard (HDF)
- Ceiling boards
- Particleboards
Can rice husk be molded?
Yes, rice husk can be mixed with several plastic materials and processed via compression molding, injection molding, or extrusion techniques in order to create a diversity of products.
Here some of the most common plastics that are used in rice husk composites:
- Low-density polyethylene (LDPE)
- High-density polyethylene (HDPE)
- Polylactic acid (PLA)
- Polypropylene (PP)
- Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
List of Rice Husk Manufacturers in China
In this section, we list some Chinese suppliers that specialize in manufacturing OEM and ODM rice husk products.
Fujian Shenglin Huanghe Packaging
Fujian Shenglin Huanghe Packaging is a manufacturer focused on providing OEM and ODM food packaging, cutlery, and kitchenware, made with eco-friendly or biodegradable materials.
Currently, Shenglin has 4 semi-auto production lines with a total of 48 machines and is able to produce more than 150 kinds of regular products or customized products made with rice husks, sugarcane bagasse, corn starch, paper, and bioplastics.
Main Products
- Rice husk children’s tableware
- Rice husk cutting board
- Rice husk bento boxes
- Paper cups
- Paper straws
- PET lids
- Corn starch cutlery
Summary
- Certification: ISO 9001
- Compliance: LFGB, REACH
- MOQ: Not mentioned
- Samples offered: Yes
Location: 3D, 701, Yiquan City Garden, Citong Road, Fengze District, Quanzhou, Fujian
Jiaxing Kins Eco Material
Jiaxing Kins Eco Material engages in the R&D and production of biodegradable, and disposable tableware such as plates, bowls, cups, fork, and knives for parties, and weddings.
The company’s research team includes some experts on materials physics with a background in reputable academic institutes such as the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the University of Berkeley, and the University of North Texas.
With the help of these scientists, the company has developed several types of biodegradable, microwave-safe, and washable tableware products made with eco-materials such as rice husk, palm leaves, cornstarch, and wood barks.
Main Products
- Rice husk chopping boards
- Kraft paper coffee cups
- Disposable PLA drinking straws
- Wooden fruit plates
- Palm leaves cutlery
Summary
- Certification: Not mentioned
- Compliance: LFGB, FDA
- MOQ: Not mentioned
- Samples offered: Yes
Location: Building 1, Modern Plaza, Nanhu District, Jiaxing, Zhejiang
Xiamen Ebei Import & Export
Xiamen Ebei Import & Export is a supplier of eco-friendly tableware, accessories, and furniture. The company was founded in 2010 and offers a comprehensive of consulting and manufacturing services for ODM and OEM customers.
Ebei combines biodegradable materials such as rice husk, bamboo, wheat straw, reed, and sugarcane bagasse with metal, ceramic, glass, acrylic, and stone to produce a diversity of options.
Main Products
- Rice husk children’s dinner set
- Rice husk drinking straws
- Rice husk coffee cups
Summary
- Certification: BSCI
- Compliance: LFGB
- MOQ: Not mentioned
- Samples offered: Yes
Location: 511, Qisen Building, No.103, Caitang Industrial Zone, Huli District, Xiamen, Fujian
Zhejiang Hengchuan New Material
Zhejiang Hengchuan New Material is an ODM, and OEM manufacturer of degradable drinking straws, tableware, and disposable take-away cutlery.
Hengchuan has more than ten years of experience in designing and producing tableware and cutlery for food serving industries, such as cafes, restaurants, ice cream shops, beverage shops, and street food stalls.
Customers can choose various types of eco-materials to customize their food containers in different printing patterns, sizes, shapes, and bevels for different purposes. For example, Hengchuan can produce slanted and regular rice husk straws with different sizes and lengths and suitable to be used for bubble tea drinks, tapioca milk tea, or fruit juices.
Main Products
- Rice husk drinking straws
- Wheat straw drinking straws
- Reed drinking straws
- Sugarcane fiber plates
- Corn starch PLA shopping bags
Summary
- Certification: Not mentioned
- Compliance: LFGB
- MOQ: Not mentioned
- Samples offered: Yes
Location: No. 8, Xiaofeng Road, Huishan District, Wuxi, Jiangsu
Dalian Sky Win Technology Development
Dalian Sky Win Technology Development is a manufacturer specialized in producing rice husk tableware with a factory Dalian, Liaoning. The rice husk products of Sky Win include chopsticks, forks, spoons, plates, bowls, and cups.
There are also some special product lines such as extra-large bowls and plates, spoons, and forks with easy-to-grab handles, which are exclusively designed for young infants and seniors.
Main Products
- Rice husk children’s plates and bowls with compartments
- Rice husk tureens
- Rice husk dinner sets for seniors
- Rice husk cutlery
- Rice husk mugs
- Rice husk chopsticks
- Rice husk cutting boards
Summary
- Certification: Not mentioned
- Compliance: LFGB
- MOQ: Not mentioned
- Samples offered: Yes
Location: 5366, No.9-1 Haifu Road Dalian Bonded Zone, Pilot Free Trade Zone, Liaoning
Eco Magicware
Eco Magicware is an OEM and ODM manufacturer of sustainable and recyclable cutlery products based in Dalian.
The company mainly produces single-use and durable tableware made with rice husks and plant fiber, including chopsticks, forks, spoons, hot beverage mugs, and children’s lunch boxes in various cartoon designs.
Main Products
- Rice husk tableware sets
- Rice husk chopping boards
- Rice-measuring cups
- Rice husk chopsticks
- Plant pulp coffee mugs
- Plant pulp children’s meal boxes
- Disposable rice husk food containers
Summary
- Certification: Not mentioned
- Compliance: EN 1388
- MOQ: 200 pcs
- Samples offered: Yes
Location: No. 10 Aixian Street, Gaoxin District, Dalian, Liaoning
Yiwu Suke E-Commerce Firm
Established in 2017, Yiwu Suke E-Commerce Firm specializes in manufacturing drinking straws made with rice, corn, and bamboo fiber. The company has a factory located in Shenzhen, undertaking OEM orders from international clients.
Main Products
- Rice husk and plant fiber straws
Summary
- Certification: Not mentioned
- Compliance: Not mentioned
- MOQ: Not mentioned
- Samples offered: Not mentioned
Location: H402, Jinxinghui E-commerce Building, Guangming New District, Shenzhen, Guangdong
I honestly want to know how to develop several products from the rice hust that is wasting in my country Nigeria and Ebonyi State in particular.
Is giving me a very big concern that our governments at all levels are not providing job. So i have looked inward and found the hust as an opportunity that’s not utilizing for job creation for many youths and women.
I need an insights gardline.
Thanks.