In the Philippines, pandan leaves are locally known for their fragrance and as the main dessert to a favorite dessert: buko pandan.
For the proprietor of a Laguna-based business that sells eco-bags in the Philippines, there’s more to pandan leaves than just being for consumption.
“Using pandan planters lessens the use of plastic pots and is good for the environment because it’s biodegradable,” said Michael Lombendencio.
Lombendencio used to work as a development officer for a government agency before he shifted to running his own eco-bag business to lessen the use of plastic bags among supermarket-goers.
He posted on social media about using pandan planters to inspire gardeners to practice sustainable ways. Lombendencio, however, did not expect the influx of orders from interested buyers. What turned out to be a simple suggestion became a business opportunity for the entrepreneur.
Fortunately, the demand for pandan planters can be easily met because pandan grows around the vicinity of Luisiana in Laguna. Lombendencio sources the raw material from local farmers and in order to make the planters, the eco-bag entrepreneur needed weavers, which he already had.
This story is from the July - August 2020 edition of Agriculture.
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This story is from the July - August 2020 edition of Agriculture.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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