Several supermarkets in Hanoi have started using banana leaves to wrap vegetables as a way to protect the environment.

A man shops at a supermarket

Even though plastic bags are still being widely used when customers check out, several major supermarkets in Vietnam such as Big C, Co-opmart and Lottemart have taken the first step to limit the use of plastic bags by wrapping vegetables with banana leaves.

Big C started piloting the use of banana leaves since April 1 at all of their supermarkets in Hanoi before applying the method to other supermarkets in the central and southern regions.

"I think it's very clean and effective. I prefer natural materials over plastic ones. Even when I buy sticky rice, I also prefer them wrapped in banana leaves than plastic sheets," said Nguyen Thi Nga, a customer in Thanh Xuan District.

According to Co-opmart, their customers have shown huge support for products wrapped in self-destructing plastics and banana leaves. Tran Ha from Ha Dong District said using banana leaves to wrap food and vegetables was an old practice but this was the first time he saw it was used at a big supermarket.

Lottemart said they had used banana leaves to wrap vegetables at supermarkets in both Hanoi and HCM City. They also place plastic-wrapped products in adjacent booths to gauge customers' choices.

Thu Giang from Cau Giay District said she felt safer and glad that the environment would be more protected with this new method.

"I hope this’ll be more widely used," she said.

Some photos of products wrapped in banana leaves at some supermarkets in Vietnam:

Dan Viet/Dtinews