COLOMBO, SRI LANKA, October 14, 2008: In an eco-friendly measure against the environmental hazard caused by polythene wrappers, the Sri Lanka government has evolved a technique to prepare food wrappers from banana leaves.
According to the Sri Lankan Agriculture Ministry, “a technique has been
perfected to produce cured banana leaves that can be kept more than
one month under refrigerated condition without any changes in color
or quality.”
People throughout south Asia have wrapped food in banana leaves since ancient times. The leaves provide a distinct fragrance and help to keep foods fresh.
Polyethylene sheets are convenient, but these take over a year to start degradation and can contain harmful chemicals.