Solution name.
Banana-pro-bag
Provide a one-line summary of your solution.
Banana-pro-bag uses discarded banana leaves and banana trees into banana paper bags and banana fiber ropes to protect the fruits. The test paper on it can identify the fruit maturity.
What specific problem are you trying to solve?
｜Problem analysis｜
1. The huge agricultural waste of banana leaves and banana trees breeds pests and diseases and hinders operations
According to research, only 12% of the fruits of the banana are used during the process. Worldwide, about 114.08 million metric tons of banana waste-loss are produced, leading to environmental problems such as the excessive emission of greenhouse gases.
2. The different quality of banana fruit bag leads to pests and diseases
The existing banana bag materials cannot
effectively prevent the ravages of pests and
natural disasters. Among them, the most
pathogenic banana yellow leaf disease has caused huge economic losses. According to the survey of banana sample farmers in the Philippines, the annual loss is about 917 million US dollars.
3. The banana tree is too high to be easy to set and replace the bag
Banana plants are mostly located at high altitudes, so banana farmers need to climb ladders to set and replace them every time, resulting in inconvenience and high time costs in the operation process.
｜Interview ｜
Mr. Chang / Banana farmer / Grow bananas for up to 20 years
Mrs. Chang / Banana farmer / Grow bananas for up to 18 years
Q1: What is the purpose of a banana bag?
Banana bag is used to avoid the sunshine and prevent insects and temperature, to ensure that the fruit can be full and beautifully mature during the growth period of two to three months.
"Demand for better quality bagging to protect fruits"
Q2: What are the advantages and disadvantages of different bags?
Paper bags are now the bulk, and blue plastic bagging ranks second. Waxy paper bag has many advantages. It is insect-proof, sun-proof and antifreeze-proof. It is not easily affected by changes in temperature, cold and heat, and the fruits produced are more beautiful. The blue plastic bag having holes makes it easy for insects to run in, and it is easy to get hot and airtight, and the banana skin that grows will have scars and spots.
"Waxy paper bag will pollute the environment"
"Poor use of plastic bags"
Q3: How to put on the bag?
After climbing the ladder, wrap the bag around the fruit, tighten it with plastic rope and tape and seal it at the fruit shaft to prevent rainwater from sliding in and the bag from being blown away by the wind.
"Using a lot of plastic rope is not friendly to the environment"
Q4: What to do with the bagging after removal?
The removed bag is used as a protective pad during fruit harvesting to avoid scratches caused by direct contact between banana skins and the soil. Paper bag is mostly recycled for treatment or as soil fertilizer, while plastic bag is directly thrown away.
"Recycling bag is not environmentally friendly"
Elevator pitch
What is your solution?
Banana-pro-bag uses cradle-to-cradle design to regenerate a large number of discarded banana leaves and banana trees in the process of planting into banana paper bags and banana fiber ropes to protect the fruits. It not only solves the problem of huge agricultural waste, but also prevents fruit damage through the waterproof, high hardness and strong toughness characteristics of banana paper, and achieves an environmentally friendly cycle through recycled manufacturing.
The ethylene secreted when bananas are ripe is naturally discolored by the test paper to identify the fruit maturity. The illustration reminds banana farmers of harvesting, deworming and other actions. When bagging, banana farmers only need to stand in place and pull the rope down to tighten the bagging, greatly reducing physical exertion and reducing the risk of operation.
Banana-pro-bag brings high convenience and high-efficiency operation quality to banana farmers, which is in line with the second item to eliminate hunger, achieve food security, improve nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture. It solves the problem of huge agricultural waste and conforms to Item 12 to ensure a sustainable consumption and production model: before 2030, the generation of waste will be significantly reduced through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse.
Who does your solution serve? In what ways will the solution impact their lives?
｜Product value｜
1. Use waste banana leaf recycling banana bag
Recycle agricultural waste into an important tool in the planting process, and improve the color and beauty of the fruit and export it.
2. The process of setting can be completed remotely
The long rope on the bag allows the banana farmer to easily complete the suit by simply standing on the ground and stretching.
3. Fruit maturity index diagram
Through the color change of the test paper, it can help banana farmers to identify the maturity of the fruit, and open the bag in time to check the quality.
｜SDGs Goals｜
1. Banana-pro-bag brings high convenience and high-efficiency operation quality to banana farmers, which is in line with the second item to eliminate hunger, achieve food security, improve nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.
2. Banana-pro-bag solves the problem of huge agricultural waste and conforms to Item 12 to ensure a sustainable consumption and production model: before 2030, the generation of waste will be significantly reduced through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse.
｜Circular Agriculture Abroad｜
The rise of sustainable circular agriculture
With the development of the concept of a sustainable circular economy, the EU has formulated a carbon border adjustment mechanism plan. Starting from 2026, tariffs will be imposed on high carbon emission products to improve the resource utilization efficiency of natural and recycled materials. It is an urgent matter.
｜Carbon Footprint Estimation｜
Carbon emissions of banana industry
The Oxford University data platform (Our World In Data) cites research published in the journal Science that each kilogram of bananas produces about 0.86 kg of carbon emissions.
In addition to the carbon emissions from the cultivation process, the remaining carbon emissions are mainly concentrated in the transportation phase (about 0.3kg).
Reduced carbon emissions using Banana-pro-bag compared to conventional bagging
Worldwide, about 114.08 million metric tons of banana waste-loss.
The manufacturing process offsets the manufacturing carbon emissions of virgin bagging, where handling waste is included in the calculation of manufacturing materials.
Using waste to regenerate bagging, the estimated carbon emissions are 99.11 million.
How are you and your team well-positioned to deliver this solution?
When I was growing up watching my grandparents grow bananas, I discovered the inconvenience and problems in the planting process, so I checked and interviewed the needs of banana farmers on the spot, hoping to help solve the inconvenience in the operation process with my existing capabilities and innovative designs. And improve the quality of bagging and solve the original intention of agricultural waste.
I insist on discovering problems that are worth solving, ranging from small to daily life to international issues, and to bring people a better quality of life through continuous thinking and research. The original intention of our business is to have the courage to try and challenge novel methods. The road to entrepreneurship is so difficult, but it still cannot extinguish the enthusiasm for bringing better innovative designs to society.
What steps have you taken to understand the needs of the population you want to serve?
Banana-pro-bag is derived from the nearby materials of the bagworm moths to build a nest. Through the process of planting bananas, waste banana leaves are collected and recycled into banana paper and ropes. Combining the two produces and echoing the bagworm moths spit silk to build a nest to protect itself to protect bananas.
Through on-the-spot inspection of banana farmers' use of bagging, it was found that it is difficult to set bagging and the problems of different quality. It is hoped that the professional ability of the team will reduce the quality of banana growth and improve the smoothness of operation for users, so as to solve the problem of agricultural waste. accumulation and effective use.
Also, we interviewed senior banana farmers. We learned that :1.Demand for better quality bagging to protect fruits. 2.Waxy paper bag will pollute the environment; plastic bags are not effective in use. 3.The process is complicated and it is dangerous to climb high. 4.Recycling bag is not environmentally friendly.
After the interview, they were very willing to try it, because it is very inconvenient to dispose of discarded bananas, and the lost fruits are also very expensive. In addition to the current banana farmers, the younger generation will return to their hometowns to start related work. These young banana farmers will be a large customer group for us. We will use a simple and easy-to-use method to let these second-generation banana farmers complete the operation procedure at a glance, and allow other people who are not familiar with the operation process, such as foreign labor, to complete the entire operation perfectly.
In order to test the material, we went to the banana farm to collect waste banana trees, and made banana papers and ropes. Therefore, we made sure banana papers and rope characteristics successfully. Also, we discussed with banana farmers and gained advice to improve design.
Which aspects of the Challenge does your solution most closely address?
Taking action to combat climate change and its impacts (Sustainability)
What is your solution’s stage of development?
Prototype: A venture or organization building and testing its product, service, or business model
In what city, town, or region is your solution team located?
Taipei, Taiwan
Who is the Team Lead for your solution?
Chang Yen
