Man's Company Turns Waste Banana Stems into Fine Rugs, Baskets, other Materials, Video Causes Frenzy
- A man, Kimani Muturi, started a company to 'revolutionise' the usefulness of banana stems
- With an outfit called Texfad, the stems are turned into materials handwoven into rugs and baskets
- Kimani said interns who come to learn get the process very fast because what they do is not rocket science
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A company in Uganda, Texfad, is changing the recycling game. Banana stems that farmers would not think twice about dumping are now materials for things like rugs, baskets, and hair extensions.
In a video report by Insider, workers were seen cutting off the stems and grinding them in a machine to make them ready materials that can be used.
Source: Instagram
Workers could be seen making different things out of the banana waste. It was reported the owner of the outfit, Kimani Muturi, started the company in 2013 when he fell in love with handweaving in college.
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To make the stems fit for use, they cut into different shapes and spread out in the sun to dry. After that, the strands are fed into an extractor. The cost of the machine is between $1,000 (N381,500) for a used one and $10,000 (N3,815,000) for a new type.
After the extraction process, the end result is taken out to dry again. One can also dye the material afterwards to give it distinct colours.
Making a rug out of the stems could take around a month and may be sold for around $500 (N190,750).
Watch the video documentary below:
Legit.ng compiled some of the reactions to the video below:
ibehtin_ivy said:
"They might lack iron in them soon ooo, if cleared all the plantain in there land, problem dy ooo."
liferontech said:
"These are the kinds of innovative solutions that should be supported by TEF."
kfemidavies said:
"You can’t believe how blessed we are? If banana fruits are useful to healthy lives and the stems are equally use to make fibres in making industrialized materials such as rugs and other clothing materials. We need to go into more cash crops plantations in Africa. This is another vocational training program into employments opportunities for youths in African continents."
iamyoungdaddy said:
"Someone will come and tell me that oyibo brought us civilization, hell no they brought us division that's all."
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Meanwhile, Legit.ng earlier reported that a lady identified as Adejoke Lasisi shared beautiful bags, clothes and shoes she made from recycled pure water nylon wastes.
She could be seen in one of the photos rocking a matching dress, necklace, sandals and bag; all products of pure water nylon waste conversions.
Adejoke who seems to be in charge of a group - Planet3R - concerned with making eco-friendly products achieved this by carefully converting these nylon wastes through sterilization using locally made wooden equipment.
Source: Legit.ng
