Green Banana Paper Eco-Friendly Wallets

American expat Matt Simpson of Green Banana Paper in Kosrae, Micronesia has launched an innovative company in which banana tree trunks that would otherwise be discarded after harvest are recycled to make durable, vegan paper wallets, artist paper and more. 
 
The story is a fascinating one and my hat is off to Matt, originally a volunteer school teacher in Kosrae, for recognizing a way to improve the lives of island residents by creating jobs and sustainable export products.

Green Banana Paper Vegan Wallet

Have a look at this fun-to-watch, short video that shows the labor-intensive process of making eco-friendly wallets from tough fibers that are stripped by hand from within banana tree trunks.

 

You see, unlike most fruit trees, banana trees produce fruit only once and then must be chopped down. Usually they are left in the jungle, but thanks to Green Banana Paper, more than 75 Kosrae farmers now earn extra income by selling their waste trunks to the company.

Banana Tree Trunks

Banana fiber has been used for thousands of years for rope making and weaving, but it was Matt had the idea to launch the tiny industry in 2014 by teaching himself, and an initial handful of local workers, the process of making paper via Google, YouTube, books and lots of trial and error.

Green Banana Paper Vegan Wallet

It is obvious he has put an immense amount of determination and passion into the project, and has carefully thought out the most ecologically sound way of producing banana paper.

Handmade Banana Paper on drying racks

"Green Banana Paper is striving toward a closed loop manufacturing process. The waste from the banana trees is put into a compost pile until it decomposes enough to fertilize our small fruit farm. Off-cuts and paper scraps are recycled and transformed back into the original fibres with almost zero waste."

Vegan Wallet Banana Paper Design

Like leather, but without the cruelty, banana paper wallets are naturally water, fire and tear resistant. A thin coating of wax is applied to the outside to protect against sweat, spills or rain. With thoughtful use, one can expect a wallet to last for years.

Green Banana Paper Illustrator

The informative Green Banana Paper press page details the steps of the process: "It begins with our local farmers, then tree collection, fiber extraction, drying, cutting, boiling, washing, pulping, papermaking, die-cutting, scoring, printing, adding elastic/ID window, folding, gluing, sewing, waxing, grading and packaging. Over the course of 1-2 weeks, more than 12 people must put a total of 5-6 hours of hard work into each and every wallet."

Green Banana Paper Vegan Wallet Company Staff

With the success of its Kickstarter campaign [now ended] that launched less than a week ago to create Green Banana Paper awareness - it has already met its target goal, but continues through March 31. The company will continue to grow by hiring more employees, recycling more banana trees and expanding its product line.

Green Banana Paper Vegan Wallets

Giveaway [now ended]: One worldwide winner will receive a handmade banana paper wallet in his or her choice of the Floral or Castaway screen printed design and ink color shown below or a blank wallet - particularly nice for those who prefer a clean, leather-look or for artists who wish to apply an original design. Delivery will be mid-April when the Kickstarter campaign has ended.

Vegan Wallet Trio

To enter, simply leave a comment below. Note that Blogger does not allow me to see the email address you type into the form with your name, so you must include an email address within your comment in order to be contacted if you win. If spam is a concern type it this way: janedoe at gmail dot com

Green Banana Paper Women's Vegan Wallet

The giveaway is also underway on Instagram [now ended]. Enter at one or both places by the end of Saturday, February 25, 2017.

Green Banana Paper Men's Vegan Wallet

One person from the combined locations will be chosen at random and notified. Good luck!

Green Banana Paper Vegan Travel Wallet

 
Visit Green Banana Paper; also on Kickstarter, Instagram and Twitter.
 

Bananas are actually giant berries!

Note: You might be wondering where remote Micronesia is located... a region of more than 600 islands in the western Pacific Ocean, it is roughly a seven hour flight from Hawaii and six hours north of Sydney.

Ann Martin
Ann Martin

This is a short biography of the post author and you can replace it with your own biography.

Comments

  1. I love reading about people who are innovative and care about people and the environment. Martha

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  2. I'm happy that Green Banana Paper is creating jobs and recycling fiber on Kosrae. Their designs are beautiful and I am delighted with their work! Ramona

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  3. Awesome wallets! Was JUST looking for a new one when this came up!

    zekealeek808@gmail.com!

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  4. What a terrific idea!

    icbnett (at) gmail.com

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  5. An amazing idea!

    ckmmnl@gmail.com

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  6. I have been impressed with this process and site since I first saw it! We have already ordered some wallets, and a free one would be great on top of those! Thanks for the opportunity! marytdeb at bellsouth . net

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  7. So glad to see your kickstarter campaign has been successful. I'd love to help you market your wallets in Italy if you like. Gabriele. romeboy at gmail com

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  8. Thank you so much for covering this local industry! One note, Micronesia is a region, not a nation.

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  9. Very cool. Please count me in. rusthawk at gmail dot com

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  10. Just got your mail-update/newsletter in my mailbox and just read the wonderfull story on this green banana paper-making.
    Thank you for sharing it.
    carlavandermei at gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  11. I read a list once of all the things a banana can do and now look it can even turn it can turn into a wallet. Pretty cleaver that banana.
    Love the new wallets!
    louisemey@aol.com

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  12. I have never seen anything like this. Just wonderful!! Such a cool wallet.

    mjmarmo@comcast.net

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  13. As stated on Kickstarter: creative passion, ethical mission, incredible story— and I'd say beautiful as well
    ksukeena at yahoo dot com

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  14. A creative mind is an amazing tool. You have that tool. I am constantly in awh of the creative use of things people discard. Just4jackiesstuff2016 at Gmail dot com. Good luck to all who enter.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sorry that was yahoo.com NOT gmail
      Just 4 jackies stuff2016@ yahoo

      Delete
  15. What a fantastic product!!! Would love to get several--they would make nice gifts.
    dragonswing15137@yahoo.com

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  16. Ann - thanks for letting us know about this product and this business. I've ordered some paper products from greenbanana. I'm so glad I heard about them and am anxiously awaiting my paper! -Bev

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  17. Love these. I'm all for animal free products. Beautiful at the same time.

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  18. Amazing and beautiful too. I am eager to try this banana paper in my art projects. Winning a wallet would be the icing on the cake.

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  19. These are gorgeous! I love handmade paper. It always makes me so happy to see someone helping others and doing what is best for our mother. banaszakv58 at gmail dot com

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  20. So clever! Love this idea & the beautiful wallets.
    jolea dot 1994 at gmail dot com

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  21. Kudos to the creators - Wonderful recycle idea and good for the artistic soul! These are stunning works or art as well as being useful and good for the environment! Especially like the green men's wallet.
    Paper Hugs,
    Jan
    castle 77 at comcast dot net

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  22. Fantastic idea. We lived in Micronesia about 40 years ago - loved it!!
    Would love to own one of the banana wallets.

    eppf2 at aol dot com

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  23. Those are some amazing wallets! And I need a new one too.
    cam11@telus.net

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  24. Lovely, fantastisch, clever. I'm totally in love with the products! You can contact me at info@korau.nl

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  25. What a beautiful and innovative way to create a gorgeous product in a sustaining manner!
    Mariangmcl at Gmail dot com

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  26. Genius idea and beautiful wallets. I love this kind of creative and "green" thinking, it's exactly what our world needs. Big thumbs up and keep up the good work :) malgorzata.muszel at gmail dot com

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  27. I really love these! They are beautifully made and vegan! I am vegetarian and always look for animal friendly products like this. glindathegood@bellsouth.net

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  28. This is a fantastic concept! Love it! The Pacific needs more of these sustainable, ethical, and environmentally friendly approaches to business. I hope Green Banana Paper will inspire more budding entrepreneurs from the Pacific to be more environmentally conscious when developing their products.
    aloisdeborah@gmail.com

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  29. This is amazing! It's inspiring to learn about innovations like these that provide eco-friendly and sustainable alternatives to everyday items. :) joannaque at yahoo dot com

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  30. Count me in !
    bianca.rogoveanu@yahoo.com

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  31. I love these wallets! So amazing!

    tlascko16@gmail.com

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  32. awesome products! suzamans@hotmail.com

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  33. What's amazing wallets!
    Ceairia@gmail.com

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  34. Recycling is always a good idea. I appreciate the hard work and most of all the thought behind this vallet. The world needs more people like you. nehircan@gmail.com

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  35. Beautiful, ingenious and exciting. Brilliant idea and great artwork.
    pam_sedgmen@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  36. Impressive. Just seeing this information on a sleepless night.
    May God bless your efforts and many through them!
    Otterkk1 at gmail dot com
    Kathy

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  37. Oh my god they are amazing! Simple, original and useful. Glad I've descovered them.

    m.falco.csi@gmail.com --> m.falco.csi at gmail dot com

    Maria

    ReplyDelete

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