Banana Fiber for Packaging
Why packaging ?
Packaging is the last line of defense for a product. It is a container for the product so that it can be transported and sold to consumers. Packaging needs to provide safety and protection, be environmentally friendly and easily decomposable, and provide customers with an experience.
Packaging is important because it protects the product from damage during transport, while also displaying the product's brand image. Packaging must protect products from environmental hazards, such as moisture or temperature extremes; also, it should be recyclable to reduce waste. Packaging should not only protect products but also enhance customer experience.
The package design has two main functions: protecting the product inside while giving consumers a sense of what they are buying before they purchase it.
Different type of Packaging
Below listed are the different way of packaging a product
- Paperboard boxes. Paperboard is a paper-based material that is lightweight, yet strong. ...
- Corrugated boxes. ...
- Plastic boxes. ...
- Rigid boxes. ...
- Chipboard packaging. ...
- Poly bags. ...
- Foil sealed bags.
General overview of packaging industry
The industry was valued at $50.5 billion in 2019 and is anticipated to reach $204.81 billion by 2025, registering a CAGR of 26.7% from 2020 to 2025. The growth in the sector is being driven by a surge in e-commerce, food processing, pharmaceuticals, FMCG, manufacturing industry and healthcare sector. Additionally, numerous government initiatives including 'Make in India' had positive impact on the packaging industry. The paper and packaging industry is currently the fifth largest sector in the Indian economy and has the potential to achieve pricing levels that are about 40% cheaper compared to European regions.
How the current packaging is spoiling the environment
Plastic pollution is a global issue that has been discussed for decades. The world produces 300 million tons of plastic annually and it takes more than 400 years for plastic to biodegrade.
The current state of plastic pollution is a major concern for the environment. It harms all living organisms, including humans. Plastic waste can be found in the ocean and on land, in our homes, schools, and workplaces.
With the extensive use of online shopping, the use of poly based packaging has grown phenomenally. Although several research is going on for alternate packaging, yet it is in a nascent stage.
What is banana fiber ?
The banana plant contains good-quality textile-grade fibres popularly known as banana fibre. This fibre is another unexplored natural fibre used for the fashion and technical textile industries for sustainable product development. These fibres are extracted from the pseudostem of the banana plant.
Composition of banana fiber
The specific strength properties of banana fibers are better than other conventional fibers. Banana fibers have light weight, fire resistance quality, high strength, smaller elongation, biodegradability, great potentialities and robust moisture absorption quality.
How the banana fiber can be used for packaging
Bananas are a great source of fiber which can be recycled in order to make a durable packaging material. The banana fiber is rolled around and then stitched together to form a strong and hard-to-tear material. This can be used as a cushion for fragile objects or as packaging material for heavy items.
Why can’t other fibers be used for packaging
Banana fibre is a natural material that can be used for packaging. It has a high tensile strength and does not require any additional process.
Banana fibre is also biodegradable and can be composted. This makes it an environmentally friendly option for packaging.
Bananas are a fruit that grows on trees, making them sustainable to produce in large quantities. Additionally, the material from the banana peel is able to be dried and turned into fibre without any processing or chemicals.
How to scale the production of banana fiber ?
Banana plants are a major source of income for many people in the south India. The southern india is abundant with banana trees. The banana tree becomes a waste after the fruit is cut. The production of banana fibre can be scaled up by using a simple solution that will not only provide employment to villagers but also help in cutting down waste.
The solution is to put together banana trees after they have been harvested and then dry them out on racks so that they're ready for processing. Once they are completely dried up, they are flattened and cut into small pieces by hand and stitched together. This provides huge employment opportunities to local villagers especially women.
How does using banana fiber help the environment
Bananas are not only tasty and healthy, but they also have a lot of benefits for the environment.
For example, banana fiber is easily decomposable, environmentally friendly and not harmful to animals. The fiber can be used as cattle fodder and it can be used for mulching.
It's clear that bananas are very sustainable fruits with many benefits for the environment.
Using banana fiber in Let’sLive
We in Let’sLive are very conscious about our environment. We make sure we do not contaminate the environment in anyway. So right from the beginning, we decided to avoid use of poly based packaging materials unless mandated by fssai. Keeping this in mind, we researched with several natural materials to create packaging materials and we finally were able to create a strong packaging solution to all our products. We extensively tested it by shipping it across the country to make sure that the package is strong and gives a good experience to our customers.
About Let’sLive
Let’sLive is a social empowerment enterprise committed to enhancing and improving the livelihoods of tribal and farming communities. We work directly with small-scale farmers so that our customers can get access to products that are natural, pristine, and picked from the lap of nature. We encourage and provide advice for practicing ethical farming and eco-friendly methods to all those who partner with us.
* Value every life around us by encouraging ethical farming
* Leverage local knowledge and promote legacy harvesting practices with high hygienic standards
* No preservatives or artificial processing on any of our products
* Each product can be traced to its origins and the people involved in its making
* Educate consumers on the importance of consuming rich and natural local produce