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Through B2B and B2C models, companies can buy agricultural waste/byproducts from farmers as raw materials that will be processed into sustainable packaging and generate revenue from sales of products to other businesses and consumers. This IOA will help generate additional income for farmers from selling the agricultural waste/byproducts as raw materials,
and reduce marine plastic pollution from replacement of plastic packaging, reduce air pollution from reduced open burning of agricultural waste/byproduct, and. Moreover, replacing plastic packaging will also help decrease health risks for consumers from reduced exposure to contaminants in plastics. Investors can invest money in companies that produce and sell sustainable packaging. Examples of companies active in this space are:
Gracz has produced compostable food packaging and containers since 2009 that are made from agricultural byproducts/wastes such as sugarcane bagasse, rice straw, water hyacinth, corn stalk, etc. Gracz also supports farmers with preprocessing the raw materials to become suppliers for Gracz, and generate income (1).
Reusable food and beverage containers made from rice straw are now readily available many shops in Thailand, more than 70 percent export to Europe and Asia. Local businesses and university labs are using natural materials such as banana leaves, or coconut to create sustainable containers and packaging (10).
Sustainable packaging from agricultural waste/byproducts provide alternatives to plastics that can reduce marine plastic pollution and air pollution, while also providing income to farmers.