Abstract:
The world's constant combat towards global issues such as climate change, pollution, violence, security, terrorism, etc., all rooted from danger inflicted activities or interests has taken its toll accelerating our extinction. The list goes on and in just a snap, we were all consumed by the infamous COVID-19. This pneumonia-like disease has launched a global economic tsunami and disruption to our lives that was later on declared as a pandemic. With no available cure yet, there were few safety measures practiced globally namely social distancing, quarantine, and mass testing. In order to contain and avoid further spread of the virus, we were forced to adapt to the new normal. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) has become an inseparable part of our daily lives ergo, the increase in PPE production, which is considered inevitable, leads to a surge in global plastic waste. COVID-19 waste has become a new form of pollution caused by mass production of single-use PPE with no structured waste management that floods our ocean beds. Manufacturers are now looking for alternatives to decrease plastic waste and to shift to a more sustainable and circular PPE ecosystem. Philippines, as the second top exporter of bananas in the world, would a banana pseudo-stem fiber be the most promising business venture opportunity?
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