RESULT
One Planet Paper® contributes to 20+ environmental and social values, and our Team in Zambia receives 30+ benefits to their salaries. Over 1000 people in rural Zambia are now benefiting from the banana fiber and paper project indirectly (2022).
One Planet Paper® is guided by 3 important criteria towards a Green Economy: (1) The so called ECO CYCLE (natures biocycle and technical cycle). (2) The GLOBAL GOALS (SDGs – Sustainable Development Goals) and (3) FAIR TRADE standards, based on the World Fair Trade Organizations 200+ points towards sustainability. This results in better traceability during the entire supply chain. (who is making the fiber and paper? And how?) 
In 2016, we were certified by the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO), becoming one of the first Fair Trade verified paper producers in the world. Details here.
- Employment of over 20 women and men
- Employment of single mothers, HIV-positive and other socially vulnerable people
- Collaborating with 50+ small scale farmers (supporting organic banana cultivation)
- Support for school attendance of 200+ children
- In 2019, some of our team members’ children entered university for the first time.
- Solar lamps supported to more than 1,000 people
- Malaria prevention education, and installation of preventive mosquito nets
- Provision of safe water – shared to nearby villages (approx. 500,000 liters per year)
- Inofficial “ambulance” service transporting people with emergency illnesses or injuries to the clinic
*In rural Africa, it is said that each peraons income supports 7-10 family members, relatives and neighbors.
Some of the Environmental Benefits
- Forest protection – Banana stem regenerates within 1 year vs. 10~30 years for ordinary trees. We also participate in a local forest protection system conencted to REDD+ (a framework created by the UNFCCC Conference of the Parties COP)
- Protecting biodiversity – while we employ people in risk of poaching, we also train our Team Members in biodiversity understanding, and the role of endangered species
- Supporting Organic Farming – we buy stems only from organic banana farmers
- Banana fiber production use zero chemicals (organic production)
- Reducing the environmental impact of paper production – Washi technology produces less energy and water
Direct benefits to our Team Members (employees)
Here you can read about the 30+ direct benefits to our Team in Zambia
Photos from our project related results, clockwise from top left: organic banana farmers, children at school, elephants nearby, solar power used in the village, installation of mosquito nets to prevent malaria, opening of wells to villagers
