Papyrus Australia brings banana fibre food packaging to Egypt

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Ramy Azer Papyrus Founder (second from left) and Heba Nayil Papyrus Egypt CEO (right). Image supplied.

Papyrus Australia, a developer of sustainable technology that converts banana plantation waste into fibre and biodegradable food packaging products, is set to deliver its banana fibre moulding line to Egypt following six months of fabrication, assembly, and testing.

In a press release, the company said the equipment will be utilised to turn raw banana fibre into pulp for the sustainable production of food packaging items.

Papyrus Australia revealed it has fulfilled its commitment by paying the final equipment payment to the fabricator.

This payment marks the completion of the financial terms related to the supply of equipment under the Egyptian Government contract. 

According to the contract, Papyrus will receive the first payment milestone upon the arrival of the equipment and its formal handover to the Egyptian government.

The team working in Egypt is already completing site preparations in anticipation of the equipment’s arrival and installation. 

This first shipment of equipment will serve as the foundation for one banana plantation waste processing facility’s manufacturing line. 

Based on its demonstration facility in Sohag, Papyrus’ modelling suggests that Egypt could support up to 40 banana plantation waste conversion facilities.

Papyrus Chairman Edward Byrt commented on the milestone’s significance. expressing his delight to witness years of hard work come to fruition with the shipment of equipment for the Egyptian Government’s first processing facility.

“This is a major milestone for our company and the environment. We are excited to bring our innovative technology to the marketplace and start making a difference by developing Egypt’s green industry,” Byrt noted. 

He added, “Our technology has the potential to revolutionise the banana industry by turning a major environmental problem into a commercially viable opportunity.”

In October 2022, Papyrus Australia struck a landmark deal with Egypt’s National Authority for Military Production (MP)  to develop the first of its facilities across Egypt to turn banana plantation waste into useful, sustainable products. 

This agreement is significant because of the environmental advantages it will achieve as well as the international recognition it will bring to a sustainable Australianborne innovation, the company noted. 

Papyrus Australia stated that the industry will use materials that would have otherwise gone to waste and reduce significant CO2 equivalent emissions by processing waste from banana plantations using Papyrus technology, making Papyrus’ technology essential in resolving this country’s waste problem.