First it was Thailand, now Vietnam has started packaging their fruit with all natural banana leaves according to an article from Michael Hughes on Trulydeeply.com.au. Apart from the positive impact on the environment, it keeps the produce fresher and it also seems to enhance product appeal and therefore sales. Hoa, a local shopper told the VN Express “When I see vegetables wrapped in these beautiful banana leaves I’m more willing to buy in larger quantities. I think this initiative will help locals be more aware of protecting the environment,” Vietnamese supermarkets are now exploring using banana leaves for other fresh products such as meat.
While there are clearly some logistical challenges, especially when it comes to branding the product, it is certainly a great leap forward from plastic wrapping everything.