Asian Supermarkets Use Banana Leaves Instead of Plastic Bags And The Results Are Stunning!
In an attempt to tackle the plastic pollution crisis that is threatening to spiral out of control, many supermarkets across Asia have replaced their plastic shopping bags with natural wrappings made of banana leaves.
According to UNILAD, One such place is the Rimping supermarket in Chiangmai, Thailand.
Photos were shared to the Facebook page Perfect Homes Chiangmai, showing the supermarket’s produce held together by the natural green wrapping.
The caption read:
“Well done Veggie first and Rimping. Let’s hope there are more great ways to cut plastic!
Some commenters pointed out that there is still plastic visible around some of the products, but the person who shared the photos rightfully responded ‘ Not 100% perfect but a step in the right direction”
The photos took the internet by storm, having been shared over 17,000 times so far. The news has triggered a global wave of public approval.
One Facebook user responded:
“It can be done. Just takes effort and determination to save the work!!!!! Congratulations for leading the way.”
While another added:
“Little steps make big difference. Change is coming well I hope for the better.”
Following the viral Facebook post, other supermarkets across Vietnam such as Lotte Mart in Ho Chi Minh City, Saigon Co.op, and Big C in Hanoi have all started wrapping their goods in banana leaves.
A Lotte Mart representative told VnExpress the company is planning to replace the plastic shopping bags in all of its supermarkets across Vietnam with banana leaf wrappings very soon.
The banana leaf shopping bag comes to show that the Vietnamese people take plastic pollution very seriously. Not long ago, a Vietnamese man started making grass straws that can now be bought online.
The ingenious idea of using banana leaves instead of plastic bags puts Vietnamese supermarkets ahead of their EU and the UK rivals, who’ve only introduced a plastic bag charge.
The European Parliament is still pondering a complete ban on single-use plastics by 2021. In the meantime, millions of young people around the world have joined the #trashtag challenge.
