THAILAND SUPERMARKET SWAPS PLASTIC PACKAGING WITH BANANA LEAVES

The worldwide war on plastic has been given a massive boost after a supermarket in Thailand started wrapping its fresh fruit and vegetables in banana leaves, instead of the dreaded, ubiquitous plastic packaging.

And when photos of the produce were posted by local estate agents Perfect Homes, the story went viral, with social media bursting with support for the idea. “Little steps make a big difference. Change is coming!” wrote one supporter. “Oh yes. Great compost for the garden,” shared another, while a different user commented on the improved visual effect: “This is actually beautiful,” they wrote.

Simon Bradshaw, Director of Perfect Homes said, “We’d just popped in to get a few items while we were waiting to sign some contracts, when I noticed the vegetables wrapped in banana leaves and I just liked the idea. I thought I would take a few pictures and post them to our page, and that was it. It went crazy, with tens of thousands of people sharing, commenting and saying what a great idea it was”

Banana trees are believed to have originated in Southeast Asia between 8,000 -5,000 BC.  They were then spread to the new world via explorers, and became commercially cultivated in the late 1880s. Today, banana leaves are widely available in specialty markets and online retailers around the world including Asia, Central Africa, Latin America, Europe, Australia, the United States, and the Caribbean.

Simon Bradshaw said, “I would love to see similar ideas implemented around the world, I am not sure if banana leaves are practical for every country, but any ideas that help cut plastic has to be a good idea.”

Bananas are one of the world’s first cultivated fruits, and the leaves have become a popular cooking tool. Banana leaves are not typically consumed but they make effective waterproof wrappers in the cooking and storing of food. They are also used as plate liners, cups, bowls, and as writing tablets.

The pictures have received over 4 million views on the Perfect Homes Facebook page alone, several countries are reported to be following the example of Rimping Supermarket including big supermarket chains in Vietnam and Philippines.

Check out these individual pictures of the now famous wrapping being talked about all over the world.