Watch the episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Njma6I0OhjM
Pallavi Pande is a mompreneur and the visionary founder and CEO of Dtocs, a Portland-based, minority and woman-owned (MWBE) company that creates stylish, 100% compostable tableware crafted from naturally shed Areca palm leaves that is sustainable, eco-friendly, and plastic-free. Pallavi’s first name roughly translates to “leaf” in Sanskrit. Fond childhood memories of dining on banana leaves in India, helped inspire Pallavi to create Dtocs.
True to Pallavi’s mission of “People, Planet, Parties,” Dtocs is a sustainable tableware brand rooted in Pallavi’s Indian heritage and driven by a mission to reduce single-use plastic. Her products combine stylish, functional design with a strong dedication to environmental and social impact. According to Pallavi, her products appeal to people who care not only about what’s on their plates, but what’s in their plates. Founded in 2019, the brand delivers elegant yet eco-conscious alternatives to single-use plastic and paper products—everything from plates and bowls to patented straws—designed for both everyday use as well as upscale events. Sold on Amazon, Walmart, Wayfair, and in local markets, Dtocs has captured attention far and wide, earning the prestigious NEXTY Award for Innovation at the Natural Products Expo East and being named a finalist in Shark Tank’s audition rounds.
According to one article dated May 1, 2024, Dtocs had achieved $1.8 million in cumulative revenue since 2019 and the company reported having sold 10 million palm leaf tableware units at that point in time.
Pallavi has also been honored as a 2023 Influential Businesswoman and an AI Innovation Excellence Award recipient, recognized on the INC 250 Female Founders list, and most recently awarded the Clearco 2025 AAPI Ecommerce Excellence Award, which spotlights Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) founders in the e-commerce space. Under her leadership, Dtocs has secured a place in SEED SPOT’s Retail Brand Accelerator and has been celebrated by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce as a CO‑100 Customer Champion.
Dtocs’ mission goes beyond sustainability. By sourcing materials from rural India, the company empowers local farmers and artisans—particularly women—while supporting educational and vocational initiatives through partnerships like Anmol Sahara and “Greater Than PDX” in Portland.
Tune in as Pallavi shares her journey from occasionally dining on banana leaves in her native India to building a BIPOC and women-empowered, eco-conscious ecommerce brand that blends purpose, sustainability, and cultural pride.
Learn more: https://dtocs.com/
Coupon Code: dtocs20 – for 20% off and free shipping on any order on the website
Connect with Pallavi Pande: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pallavi-pande-bb5abb1b/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/palpande/?hl=en
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/pdxmommies/