A Zamboanga-based startup is turning discarded banana leaves into eco-friendly products while creating jobs for marginalized communities in Mindanao.

“There are a lot of projects focusing on banana production, but the leaves are just left to wither without any relevant use,” Unas Canvas (UnVas) inventor Julienne Stephanie Fabie-Agapin told BusinessWorld via Zoom.

She said the abundance of dried banana leaves, coupled with the environmental impact of their decomposition, inspired the innovation.

“There are really not just millions but billions of kilograms of dried banana leaves available for upcycling,” she said, noting that decomposing leaves release harmful chemicals.

UnVas produces durable, paper-like sheets from sun-dried banana leaves that can be made into art canvases, accessories and home décor items, showing how agricultural waste can be turned into a usable material rather than discarded after harvest.

“We have a lot of communities here that have banana plantations, not only in Pagadian City but also in Zamboanga del Sur,” Ms. Fabie-Agapin said, noting that the Zamboanga Peninsula is among the country’s major banana-producing areas.

Mindanao is one of the top producers of bananas nationwide. Data from the local statistics agency showed that banana production from January to March reached 1.9 million metric tons, with Davao as the top-producing region at 675,000 metric tons.

UnVas’ 38-by-32-centimeter art canvas, priced at P35, has become one of its best-selling products, particularly among students.

“Instead of purchasing the usual art canvas, which is more expensive, we offer UnVas as an affordable alternative,” she said.

The startup used to buy dried banana leaves for P5 per kilo, but many plantation owners now provide them for free since collecting the leaves also helps clean their farms.

About 3,000 canvases can be produced from 12 kilos of dried banana leaves.

The company has also exported products through Casa Filipina Dubai to serve demand for Filipino-made goods overseas.

UnVas began as an extension project of Western Mindanao State University, where Ms. Fabie-Agapin teaches as an associate professor, with the goal of creating livelihood opportunities for underserved communities.

More than 75 people now work with the company, including inmates, working youth, displaced overseas Filipino workers and women affected by conflict in Matanog, Maguindanao del Norte. Workers earn 35% to 45% of each product’s retail price.

“I really wanted to upcycle agricultural waste while creating income-generating opportunities for marginalized communities,” Ms. Fabie-Agapin said.

Since its launch in 2022, UnVas has sold about 125,000 products and aims to reach 500,000 units by the end of the year. — A.L.S. Martinez