Sustainable. Stylish. Practical. These are the words that define Dtocs, the award-winning, Portland-based company founded by Pallavi Pande, whose plant-based dinnerware made from Areca palm leaves is reshaping what it means to eat sustainably. But the journey from idea to thriving brand hasn’t been without challenges—and that’s exactly what makes her story so powerful.
Bridging Culture and Commerce
Pande launched Dtocs in 2019 with a simple yet profound idea: make sustainable, compostable tableware that’s rooted in Indian tradition but made for modern use. Each plate and bowl is handcrafted from naturally shed Areca palm leaves, bringing together functionality and environmental consciousness without compromise.
But building a business in a category many consumers—and even retailers—misunderstood came with a unique learning curve.
“People often think our products are made from bamboo,” Pande says. “We had to work hard to educate the market and build awareness around what Areca palm leaves are and why they’re special as a natural and renewable resource that is already on the ground any would go to waste anyway.”
That education effort was just one of the early roadblocks. Navigating a global supply chain, managing growth, and positioning herself as a serious player in established retail industries meant Pande had to be scrappy, persistent, and strategic as a certified (WBENC) woman-owned and (NMSDC) minority-owned business.
A Certification That Signals Credibility
One of the tools Pande leveraged to accelerate her credibility and growth was SupplierGateway’s Enhanced Digital Certification (EDC), which she discovered through Amazon.
“The EDC really helped open doors with larger retailers. It shows I’m a legitimate and serious small business owner. That kind of third-party validation matters when you’re trying to get the attention of established players.”
With EDC, Dtocs not only gained visibility and access to procurement systems, but also a way to differentiate the brand in an increasingly competitive marketplace.
Advice from a Founder Who’s Been There
Six years after founding Dtocs, Pande now processes over 100 orders per day—a far cry from the early days of hustling to get noticed.
Looking back, her advice to other entrepreneurs is refreshingly honest:
“Don’t wait for perfection to start. You need historical data as a small business owner, and the only way to build that is by starting. Leverage every resource available. I wish I’d started earlier.” She adds, “The best time to start was yesterday. The second-best time is now.”
Empowered for What’s Next
For Pande, SupplierGateway’’s EDC isn’t just a badge—it’s part of a larger strategy to keep scaling, stay authentic, and deepen her brand’s impact. As consumers continue to demand products that align with their values, Dtocs is poised to meet them with purpose, elegance, and a leaf from nature’s own design book.
