Handmade paper products using Pure Natural Banana Paper Only.
The scientific name of the Banana plant is Musa sapienta. and grows all over the Philippines. The stem contains strong fibers used in products like fabrics and paper.
RCL uses domestic and renewable fibers such as abaca (Musa textilis) and Japanese blood-grass also known as cogon grass (Imperata cylindrica). RCL sources the banana stems from small farmers still farming the biological way, using manure from carabaos (local buffalo) and cows. Large industrialized banana farms do exist but these companies do not sell the banana stems to the community. More of a reason RCL buys from smaller farmers, who produce biological bananas, to fulfill our goal of producing all natural handmade paper, than buying from large plantations that are using chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
The part of the banana plant to be used for handmade paper production is the stem. Farmers discard the leaves and the stems, but roots are saved as weeks later new seedlings will spawn from it. RCL requests the farmers to collect the stems and cut in to smaller pieces. RCL buys the chopped stems from the farmers.
The chopped banana pulp is boiled in water till it becomes soft. The pulp is then stirred to separate the fibers from the pulp. The banana fibers are washed and later mixed with clean water in barrels. The paper makers blend the pulp and water by hand and scoop out the mixture with a frame containing the desired molds. The scooped fibers are sieved with a cheesecloth, compressed and later dried under the sun or on a dryer using steam. Colour is defined by the age of the banana stems; young stems produce a light brown paper while old rotten stems produce dark brown paper.
RCL does not use any chemicals, bleachers or paints during this fabrication process resulting in pure natural banana paper. This process is sustainable because the banana stems are discarded after every harvest. The farmers plant the saved seedlings that will produce a new harvest in 3 to 4 months. RCL creates an extra income for the farmers from the harvest residues.
