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Philippine Supermarkets Ditch Plastic For Leaves, Following Thailand & Vietnam With Organic Wrapping
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.
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.](https://www.brightvibes.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/phprLrgjv.jpeg)
![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.](https://www.brightvibes.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/phpwuVpMM.jpeg)
![In these photos, vegetables were wrapped using leaves and abaca string. (Photos courtesy of Svea Villanueva-Reyes)](https://www.brightvibes.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/phpPrMNJn.jpeg)
![](https://www.brightvibes.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/phpNMSD1Q.jpeg)
![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.](https://www.brightvibes.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/phpUStUw0.jpeg)
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.