Sustainability Profile: Bananas
I get it, banana bread is delicious.
In the U.S. we're kind of banana crazy. We turn them into smoothies and desserts, slather them with PB, put 'em on sammies, transform them into bread and so much more. In this post, I'll explain the major sustainability issues associated with bananas.
Bananas where?
The most bonkers fact you'll read today: banana plants are actually herbs. It's insanity, but it's true. Bananas are the fruits of herbacious plants that look like trees and are often called trees.
These banana plants grow in tropical regions and can be sown (read: planted) and harvested year-round. Most bananas are grown on small-scale farms and consumed locally. But for those of us who don't live in a tropical region, our bananas were likely grown in a large-scale plantation far away from home.
These bigger banana plantations are generally monocrop fields, which means that bananas are the only crop planted in that area. This is generally bad because it decreases biodiversity and usually destroys any previous habitats that were on that land.
Bottom line: large-scale banana farms def don't encourage diverse ecosystems.
Bananas How?
Growing and harvesting bananas is v labor-intensive, often requiring growers to clear land, prop up the banana plants, continually apply pesticides (unless they're organic), and cover the bananas with bags to protect them from the elements.
Pesticide use on bananas is a major sustainability concern. Not only do these pesticides harm the surrounding environment, but they also create a toxic environment for the plantation workers. This bogus treatment has led to a lot of lawsuits against big ag banana companies who exploit their workers. For this reason, buying fair trade bananas is usually a great option.
About a year after sowing, the bananas are ready to be harvested. Bananas that are grown for export are harvested wayyy before they're ripe because they often need to travel super far to reach the consumers. This means that the bananas need to be artificially ripened with ethylene after they arrive in the country where they'll be sold.
The energy required to export bananas is extreme. In the UK, transportation accounts for about 2/3 of the total energy required to grow bananas. I hate to burst your bubble folks, but this travel distance translates into some serious GHG emissions.
Bottom line: working conditions are often no good, and travel distances are usually high. Ugh.
Bananas why?
I get it, bananas are delicious and just so freaking versatile. But for the sake of the planet, if you don’t live near a tropical climate, I urge you to situate bananas in your “sometimes food” schema. When you want bananas for a special treat, go for organic or fair trade. The generally poor working conditions, monocrop fields and huge travel distances place bananas on the poor end of the sustainability spectrum.