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Philippine Supermarkets Ditch Plastic For Leaves, Following Thailand & Vietnam With Organic Wrapping

3 min read

Sustainable Planet
Philippine Supermarkets Ditch Plastic For Leaves, Following Thailand & Vietnam With Organic Wrapping
Source: Instagram/DizonFarms

Southeast Asian supermarkets large and small are embracing this eco-friendly alternative to plastic when wrapping fresh produce.

Philippine supermarkets now wrap fruit and veg in banana leaves

Not long ago we brought you the news that Rimping supermarket in Chiangmai, Thailand had implemented a glean, green alternative to single-use plastic by using banana leaves instead. Supermarkets all over nearby Vietnam have since followed suit, much to the delight of their customers and Facebook users around the world who quickly shared the news. Now it appears that their Southeast Asian neighbour the Philippines is getting in on the act.

Asian supermarkets using banana leaves instead of plastic Supermarkets in Thailand and Vietnam are literally going green with their packaging, replacing plastic wrap with banana leaves. The Philippines isn’t mentioned in this clip as no video footage can be found as yet. Instagram and Twitter photos below. Source: YouTube/TomoNews

Swapping single-use plastics with banana leaves is a step closer to reducing further waste

LCC (Liberty Commercial Center) Mall in Legazpi City, Albay, Philippines, has started to wrap products from their produce section in banana leaves, including chilis, cabbages, and beans. 

Simultaneously, Dizon Farms, a local produce supplier for huge supermarket chains in the Philippines, also started to introduce changes in their packaging for select supermarket chains like Robinsons.

The Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam are all countries that have been flagged by Greenpeace for plastic pollution in their high seas. 

In a study by the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (Gaia) last March, daily plastic waste in the Philippines reaches up to 163 million sachets and 3 million diapers.

Swapping single-use plastics with banana leaves is a step closer to reducing further waste, and a new iteration of the global movement against plastic. 

In the supermarket, bringing your own bag or opting for biodegradable bags instead of plastic has already been promoted as an alternative globally.

What’s interesting about the move to use banana leaves is that aside from its eco-friendly appeal and practicality, banana leaves actually look better than plastic. 

Some of the produce in LCC Mall and Dizon Farms are wrapped like a bouquet, and most of the countries that have adopted the practice use twine or abaca to wrap the whole thing together.

Source: Vice.com

Bananas are native to tropical countries like the Philippines and Vietnam, and their leaves can grow to nine feet in length. The leaves are sturdy enough for wrapping and are ideal for wrapping fresh produce since the two have a similar shelf life. Despite being more expensive than its nylon and plastic counterparts, the difference is negligible.
Why banana leaves? Bananas are native to tropical countries like the Philippines and Vietnam, and their leaves can grow to nine feet in length. The leaves are sturdy enough for wrapping and are ideal for wrapping fresh produce since the two have a similar shelf life. Despite being more expensive than its nylon and plastic counterparts, the difference is negligible. Source: Instagram/DizonFarms
Some of the produce in LCC Mall and Dizon Farms are wrapped like a bouquet, and most of the countries that have adopted the practice use twine or abaca to wrap the whole thing together.
Aside from its eco-friendly appeal and practicality, banana leaves actually look better than plastic Some of the produce in LCC Mall and Dizon Farms are wrapped like a bouquet, and most of the countries that have adopted the practice use twine or abaca to wrap the whole thing together. Source: Twitter/PhilippineStar
In these photos, vegetables were wrapped using leaves and abaca string. (Photos courtesy of Svea Villanueva-Reyes)
The supermarket of LCC Mall in Legazpi City ditched plastic packaging for their produce section In these photos, vegetables were wrapped using leaves and abaca string. (Photos courtesy of Svea Villanueva-Reyes) Source: Twitter/PhilippineStar
Supermarkets large and small are embracing the eco-friendly alternative to wrapping fresh produce Source: Twitter/PhilippineStar
When bananas are harvested, the trunk is normally cut and about 5 feet of the plant is left standing. In provinces where plates are not available, the trunk is made into plates. This time, Dizon Farms tried to use it as packaging.
Even the tough trunk of the banana plant makes useful packaging When bananas are harvested, the trunk is normally cut and about 5 feet of the plant is left standing. In provinces where plates are not available, the trunk is made into plates. This time, Dizon Farms tried to use it as packaging. Source: Instagram/DizonFarms

THIS THAILAND SUPERMARKET USES BANANA LEAVES TO AVOID EXCESSIVE PLASTIC PACKAGING

Rimping supermarket in Chiang Mai came up with an ingenious way to reduce plastic packaging by wrapping their fresh produce in banana leaves instead. Click HERE for full story.

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