100% Biodegradable and Eco Friendly Packaging Fillers - Made using invasive Water Hyacinth
- Ombak Lifestyle
- Jan 22
- 4 min read
A plant that we often overlook:
You’ve probably seen it floating quietly on lakes or ponds without ever knowing its name. It looks harmless, almost beautiful, resting on the water’s surface, seemingly minding its own business.
But beneath that calm appearance lies a much bigger story.
By the end of this post, if you feel “I didn’t know this before - now I see why this material matters,” we’ve already achieved something meaningful.
What is Water Hyacinth?
Water hyacinth is a free-floating aquatic plant that grows on the surface of freshwater bodies. With its bright green leaves and soft lavender flowers, it blends easily into natural landscapes.
What many don’t realise is how quickly it grows. Once introduced into a water body, it spreads rapidly, often taking over entire lakes and rivers in a short span of time. This fast growth is what turns a visually pleasing plant into an invasive one.
Where does it grow?
Originally native to South America, water hyacinth has spread across tropical and subtropical regions around the world, including India and Southeast Asia.
It thrives in:
Ponds
Lakes
Rivers
Marshy or slow-moving waters
As long as there is abundant water, the plant adapts easily and continues to multiply.
Why is Water Hyacinth a problem in India?
Water hyacinth grows at an alarming rate—sometimes doubling its spread within days. Over time, this unchecked growth creates serious challenges.
In India, dense water hyacinth growth:
Blocks sunlight and oxygen in water bodies, harming fish and native plants
Disrupts fishing and irrigation, affecting livelihoods
Creates stagnant water, encouraging mosquitoes and water-borne diseases
Requires constant removal, costing time, money, and resources
What starts as a plant floating quietly soon becomes a barrier between people and the water they depend on.
Summary of Water Hyacinth Impacts in India (2021-2026)
Category | Primary Problems | Key Facts & Data for India (2021–2026) |
Fishing | Declining stocks & gear damage | Fish catches have declined by 65% to 75% in heavily infested areas like the Kuttanad backwaters. |
Livelihood | Household income loss | Affected fisher households report average monthly losses of ₹3,000, representing about 20% of their total income. |
Agriculture | Irrigation & farm impact | Up to 91% of farmers in certain regions report disruptions to irrigation; rice and coconut farming are most severely hit. |
Health | Disease & water quality | Infestations are linked to outbreaks of malaria, dengue, and cholera due to stagnant water breeding mosquitoes and bacteria. |
Management | National economic cost | India spends over ₹2.3 billion annually on control measures, yet the weed continues to re-infest water bodies. |
Biodiversity | Loss of native species | Massive biomass (up to 408 tons per hectare) blocks sunlight and drains oxygen, suffocating local fish and native plants. |
The Turning Point: When a problem becomes a possibility:
Instead of treating water hyacinth only as waste, we asked a different question:
What if this excess could be put to use?
At Ombak, we transform dried water hyacinth into biodegradable packaging fillers. Once harvested and processed, this fast-growing weed becomes a compostable, shock-absorbent material that replaces plastic fillers like bubble wrap and thermocol.
This approach tackles two challenges at once:
Reducing plastic waste
Controlling invasive aquatic growth
At the same time, it creates livelihood opportunities and supports a circular approach to materials. Our aim is simple - to make sustainable packaging fillers accessible, affordable, and scalable.
(You can explore more through the reel shared below.)
What else can Water Hyacinth be used for?
This transformation didn’t happen overnight - it took nearly a year and a half of learning and refining. But as individuals, we can also be part of the solution by choosing products made from responsibly sourced water hyacinth.
It is commonly used for:
Baskets
Storage solutions
Mats
Trays
Light furniture
Home décor accents
Water hyacinth products are:
Lightweight
Durable
Naturally textured
Earthy in appearance
Most importantly, they are not seasonal—they are designed for everyday, year-round use.
A material with meaning:
Sometimes, sustainability begins by looking again at what we’ve been taught to ignore.
Yes, water hyacinth is a problem. But when used thoughtfully, it becomes a powerful resource. Turning excess into purpose is where real change begins.
Looking for eco-friendly Furniture and Home Decor?
You’re in the right place!
Ombak Lifestyle creates eco friendly furniture, home décor, and utility products using natural materials like banana fiber, seagrass, water hyacinth, rattan, rope, raffia, paper cord, pine needle, and more. Every piece is crafted in collaboration with artisans, NGOs, and women-led communities across India and Indonesia - ensuring purpose in everything we make.
We serve customers globally - from individual homeowners to large scale businesses and offer customisable solutions to suit your space and needs.
To learn more, reach out to us on WhatsApp (+91-93450 60983) or email us at hello@ombak.life.
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