At the heart of every great business is a spark of inspiration that ends up driving a mission. For Pallavi Pande, owner and founder of DTOCS, that story begins with her roots and a passion for hosting unforgettable gatherings. DTOCS, an eco-friendly palm leaf tableware brand, offers a sustainable and stylish alternative to single-use plastics and paper.
But this is more than just a product line—it’s a celebration of culture, innovation, and impact.
In the interview below, Pallavi shares her journey from starting small in 2019 to being recognized as one of the top 100 businesses in America by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
She opens up about the challenges, triumphs, and idiosyncrasies that make DTOCS a standout in the world of sustainable tableware, showing that DTOCS is about creating sustainable tableware that supports people, the planet, and parties. Let’s dive into the story of Pallavi Pande and a business built on heart, heritage, and a mission to redefine sustainability, one eco-friendly plate at a time.
What’s your name, role, and business’ name?
Hi! I’m Pallavi Pande Aka Mompreneur, Owner & Founder of DTOCS palm leaf tableware brand from Oregon.
What’s your business? What does your business do?
DTOCS is an eco-friendly tableware brand offering compostable, convenient and classy single use tableware for People, Planet and Parties. Our tableware is made from palm leaves for consumers looking for better alternatives to cheap paper, toxic plastics, expensive bamboo and boring heavy white chinaware.
They range between plates, bowls, charcuterie boards, spoons and patented straws that last in liquids for 6 hours. Sustainability with style is our motto!
Why did you decide to create this business? What inspired/motivated you?
It all started with my love for hosting parties and my Indian cultural roots, where eating on banana leaves is a tradition.
I wanted to start a brand that represented this cultural essence with a convenient and classy twist to reduce single-use plastic waste for consumers looking for better alternatives to cheap, toxic and boring single use tableware available at homes and events.
Talk to me about the journey of your business. How did you start off and where are you now?
We started small in 2019, working from my home, offering standard shapes and sizes to direct to consumers entertaining at home, and knocking on retail doors. Today, DTOCS has become one of 100 Top businesses in America championing customer experience by the US chamber of Commerce.
Our products are available online to consumers in the USA and Canada via our Website, Amazon, Walmart, Wayfair, ETSY, FAIRE, and in wholesale markets from our website directly. We have showcased at incredible events like Vegan Women Summit and been handled by an Iron Chef, making waves in sustainability circles.
What do you love about your business?
I love to add value to consumer needs while hosting parties and events and seeing how a simple palm leaf can transform into something beautiful, functional, and impactful. Plus, hearing from customers who love our products makes my day every time.
I feel proud of building a community of eco conscious minded people who give a damn about single-use and feel they now have a choice to replace their paper and plastic single-use disposable tableware with my offering.
What does it mean to you to be a minority business owner?
It means wearing multiple hats, breaking barriers as a woman, doing things out of norm that only men would do, and celebrating diversity while making an impact. It’s about showing that culture and representation matters and paving the way for others.
What are some challenges you had to face with your business? How did you overcome those?
From sourcing sustainable materials to navigating supply chain hiccups, the road hasn’t been smooth. But persistence and leaning on my network of connection and community of believers and supporters helped me overcome them.
What do you wish for others and your customers to know about your business?
I want people to know that what truly sets DTOCS apart are the stories, and impact that breathe life into our brand every day. We’re about creating unforgettable moments—like when a customer’s bulldog turned our plate into a chew toy and loved every second of it, or when rabbits gathered in a backyard to “party” with our tableware leftovers. These quirky, heartwarming tales remind us of the personal touch that makes DTOCSspecial. But it doesn’t stop there. Customers often flood our social media with admiration for our eco-friendly mission and how DTOCS elevates events like weddings and corporate dinners—making them sustainable, stylish, and free from the hassle of renting heavy, boring chinaware.
What drives us even more are the ripple effects of our initiatives. When we provided sewing machines to women of the Anmol Sahara NGO in India, the results were life-changing: one woman launched her own tailoring business to support her family, while another opened a fashion school to teach others. These stories aren’t just inspiring; they’re proof that our work is creating tangible change.
We offer wholesale pricing on our compostable tableware directly on our website and through Amazon Business. Additionally, we are eager to partner directly with organizations and corporations that are committed to sustainability and require compostable single-use tableware for their food service needs and events. We are also seeking opportunities to subcontract with caterers. If you’re interested in working with us or learning more, please don’t hesitate to reach out—we’d love to connect!
We’re also constantly innovating. DTOCS stands out as one of the only palm leaf tableware brands investing in 100% compostable packaging, moving away from plastic and recycled wraps. Plus, our patented leaf straws – tested and approved by a leading retailer in organic and natural products – stay strong for 6 hours in liquids, solving a major pain point in sustainable sipping!
Every plate, every straw, and every initiative are a step toward making sustainability not just a choice but a lifestyle.
DTOCS isn’t just another palm leaf brand—we’re redefining the game with heart, innovation, and a commitment to real-world impact, one eco-friendly plate and sewing machine at a time.
In what ways has the NWMMSDC supported you?
The NWMMSDC has been an eye-opener, providing invaluable insights into contracts and unmatched access to networking opportunities, visibility, and resources to grow my business. After attending my first Minority Supplier Diversity Conference in Atlanta, I secured a follow-up supplier diversity workshop with OHSU in my home state of Oregon, focusing on sustainable single-use disposable options. The Oregon MBDA mentors and office leaders also attended the conference with me, facilitating key introductions that have been instrumental in my journey.
Pallavi was so kind to create a coupon code for you!
Use code “NMSDC20” for 20% off and free shipping on your order on DTCOS’ website: https://www.dtocs.com
Website- https://www.dtocs.com
Pallavi’s LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/pallavi-pande-bb5abb1b/
Dtocs company LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/company/57414687/admin/
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/dtocsplates
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/dtocsplates/
Tiktok- https://www.tiktok.com/@dtocsplates
About the NWMMSDC
The Northwest Mountain MSDC, an affiliate of the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC), is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering minority-owned businesses by certifying, developing, and connecting Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) with major corporations and public agencies.
Since 1978, the Council has been a driving force for advancing supplier programs and creating opportunities that enable minority-owned businesses to thrive. Serving the Pacific Northwest Mountain region—encompassing Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming—the NWMMSDC is committed to fostering meaningful business partnerships and driving economic growth.
For more information about the NWMMSDC and its programs, visit www.nwmmsdc.org.
To learn more about how certifying your minority-owned business can benefit you, click here.