SUNT opens world's first banana factory

In the EU, an average of 120,000 tonnes of bananas are destroyed by customs every year for cosmetic reasons. SUNT Food has been fighting against this unnecessary waste since 2019, making banana bread and 'baked donuts' from banana puree made from rescued bananas. On 6 February 2023, the world's first banana factory was opened in Geldermalsen: The Banana Factory. 

The banana (mash) factory produces banana mash using an automated peeling, sorting and ripening process not yet in use anywhere else in the world. Banana puree is currently still imported from Central America where peeling and sorting is done manually. The automated system made it possible for SUNT to open the plant in the Netherlands and combat food waste there. And not only the automated processes make the plant unique, but also the fact that the puree is made from rescued 'rejected' bananas. SUNT currently works with rejected bananas from the port of Antwerp, but if it is up to them, they will be adding rejected bananas from Rotterdam very soon. 

"The Dutch import tariff for banana puree is 0%, but for rejected bananas that you wish to turn into puree, you have to pay the same rate as for fresh bananas. These rules encourage waste," said Laura Hoogland. She is lobbying vigorously to change the rules. As a result, a motion was recently passed in the House of Representatives to have a separate commodity code for rejected bananas.  

Big plans

In her fight against food waste, Hoogland hooks up with key industry partners. Banana importer Fyffes is main supplier of the rejected bananas and fruit and vegetable product manufacturer Coroos plays an important role in the plant's innovation process. Hoogland is also engaging with major national and international retailers so that in the future, wasted bananas in the supermarket can also be given a new use. The Geldermalsen plant is just a first step. In time, SUNT will also open plants in Germany and England.

Suntfood.com