About Us
On the small, developing island of Yap, Micronesia, a heavy reliance on imports creates a strained dependent economy along with an inundation of non-biodegradable plastic and Styrofoam garbage. Yap Eco Leaf Plates seeks to start up a small business turning banana leaves and betelnut sheaths (waste products of these abundant plants on Yap) into biodegradable plates, to-go containers, and utensils.
In any store on Yap, Styrofoam plates and containers are available for purchase and these products inevitably end up filling the limited landfills on Yap if they do not end up polluting the natural ecosystem on land or in the ocean. At any community gathering, hundreds of Styrofoam to-go containers are used in food preparation and serving.
Yap Eco Leaf Plates is determined to eliminate this harmful waste by offering an affordable, environmentally friendly, and healthy alternative.
In addition to cutting down on the non-biodegradable waste on island, Yap Eco Leaf Plates will provide much needed private sector employment opportunities. Not only will the employees of Yap Eco Leaf Plates benefit directly from their gainful employment, but the people of the community will also be able to earn some additional income by selling their waste product banana leaves and betelnut sheaths to then be processed into the eco-friendly products.
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Yap Eco Leaf Plates seeks to be an inspiration to other entrepreneurs of small businesses on the island of Yap. We are currently working with the Direct Aid Program through the Australian Embassy to receive grant funding for the initial purchase of the machinery needed to create the eco leaf products; however, the DAP cannot assist in the purchase of the vehicle that is needed for the transportation of raw leaf materials and the distribution of the finished eco leaf products. We also need additional funding to repair our humble "factory" so that it is in proper operating condition.
Yap Eco Leaf Plates is seeking $10,000 to cover the cost of the purchase of a vehicle as well as cover the costs of repairing the roof, walls, and electrical work in our "factory." Due to the developing economy of Yap our small business needs financial assistance to get up and running in a sustainable manner. We aim to have our “factory” operating by February 2019. Our leaf plate products will be sold as soon as they are being produced allowing the small business to become self-sustaining.
Any assistance in helping Yap Eco Leaf Plates get off the ground and running is much appreciated and will go a long way in helping this small island become less dependent on imports. Please help us keep our beautiful island pristine.
Kammagar ged nge hosachigchig (Thank you all!)