Octrooicentrum Nederland (Netherlands Enterprise Agency or RVO)

AgroFair, in collaboration with various partners, launched the project "From Bunch Bags to Corner Boards - Recycling Banana Plastic" in Peru. This initiative addresses the problem of single-use plastic bags in the banana export industry by collecting used plastic bags and recycling them into corner boards that stabilize banana boxes during transport. The project aims to make the banana export sector in Peru plastic-free and reduce plastic waste significantly. RVO’s Role: RVO played a crucial role by providing financial support through the Fund for Responsible Business (FVO). This subsidy was instrumental in setting up ECOBAN, the small recycling company in Peru, and helping it run more efficiently. With RVO’s assistance, the project was able to optimize operational processes, increase production, and start approaching break-even. Additionally, RVO’s support helped facilitate collaboration with key partners like ONG Solidaridad, Tulipán Naranja, Plastic Fantastic, and Cactus supermarket group (Luxembourg), enhancing the project’s impact.