We grew up under the shade of a palm tree. Under the blessings of this tree that just keeps on giving. From the wood that built our houses to the leaves that shelter us to its fruit that continues to nourish us. This bountiful tree is very much part of our culture and history, but we believe it can help shape a more sustainable future for us.
In 2014, we started collecting the discarded date palm leaves around our neighbourhood with the ambition of turning them into paper products that could replace plastic items such as paper bags and stationery. After experimenting for four years, we joined forces with young students at the UAE University in Al Ain to expand our work into a new area: bioplastics.