Shricant Singh Binny is the co-founder and CEO of SootheEarth, a company based in India that manufactures paper products from banana stem fiber. 

Shricant always knew that he wanted to launch a product-focused business with an emphasis on benefiting the environment, but wasn’t sure what exactly his product would be. Then, he came across the concept for banana paper, a type of eco-friendly paper created from banana plants. 

THE BENEFITS OF BANANA PAPER

An estimated 80,000 to 160,000 trees are cut down each day, many of which are used to produce paper, according to the Global Forest Resource Assessment. At SootheEarth, however, Shricant’s team uses banana stem fiber to produce paper products—saving trees from deforestation.

Commonly thought of as a tree, banana plants are actually considered an herb due to the fact that the trunk does not consist of wood. Additionally, banana plants can only survive through one fruit-bearing season. After being harvested, the plant dies, leaving farmers the work of clearing the field to prepare for next season’s planting.

SootheEarth upcycles the banana stem fiber after the plant has been harvested, helping farmers clear their fields while creating beautiful paper products—without cutting down a single tree. In fact, one ton of SootheEarth’s paper saves 17 trees from deforestation. Additionally, their products are handmade without bleaching, making them chemical-free as well.

SOOTHEEARTH IN THE BECAUSE ACCELERATOR

With more and more people looking towards Earth-friendly products, Shricant hopes the Because Accelerator will help him create a consumer-focused business plan that readies SootheEarth for international growth and potential challenges that come with rapid expansion.

The Because Accelerator is a completely free online training and mentorship program for entrepreneurs who have product-focused ideas and businesses in areas impacted by poverty.