The Potential for Value-Added Banana Production Waste under Circular Economy Concept

Abstract

The objective of this research was to identify the potential for value-added banana production by adopting circular economy concept. The resource utilization performance of a banana production factory in the middle part of Thailand was collected in 2020. The economic analysis and circular economy were used for developing the potential of banana production waste as value-added products. Finally, potential scenarios of value-added banana production were selected by brainstorming with the factory owner based on the circular economy approach. The result found four types of waste in banana production, including wastewater, rejected banana material, banana peel, empty banana bunch, and waste generated from the production process. Nine scenarios for value-added banana production were developed and proposed by the resource performance, economic analysis and circular economy implementation. After brainstorming with the banana factory owner, four potential scenarios for value-added banana production waste under circular economy concept were selected. The details of potential scenarios were as the following: banana powder form rejected banana, bio-compost from banana peels, re-use of wastewater, and sale of solid waste. From this finding, the circular economy concept should be recommended and implemented for enhancing the efficiency of the banana production process.