Eco-friendly consumer goods from banana waste, such as mats, bags, hats, scarves, fabrics, and other products, have been trial-exported to China, and preparations are underway to export them to the Korean market as well.
According to U Myint Thein, Founder of Green Banana Myanmar, fibres are extracted from banana pseudo-stems and recycled into consumer goods, turning waste into a viable business. A wide variety of garments and consumer goods are being manufactured using these banana fibres.
Cur rently, these products are gaining popularity and seeing increased demand in the domestic market, and the first trial shipment has been exported to China. Furthermore, sample products were sent to the Republic of Korea to negotiate market requirements and product quality standards.
They had to overcome technical difficulties for about five years, and efforts are underway to transition from the handicraft level to the industrial level, he added. The prices range from K10,000 to K100,000 depending on the type of item. As the items are handcrafted, their prices reflect the considerable time and labour required for production. For instance, a single scarf can take three to five days to make. Purchasing these goods directly supports local agricultural communities by generating supplementary income for farmers. Furthermore, it advances environmental sustainability by transforming agricultural waste into high-value, recycled products.
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