Designer François Hurtaud designed a kitchen knife and a peeler with a handle made of rice composite, called Yootensel.

Knife handles provide grip and helps distribute force deployed while cutting. They can be made of the same material as the blade, i.e. metal, but often, they are made of petroleum plastic to save costs.

In the process of designing Yootensel, Hurtaud kept several design principles in mind, namely to make the product out of materials that are safe and healthy for humans and the environment. The result is a handle made of agricultural waste. The rice composite has been designed in such a way that all material can be recycled or biodegrades.

The dimensions of handle have been carefully studied so that it can be held firm yet naturally in the palm of one’s hand.

Photos: François Hurtaud