Nendo: Shiawase Banana

A double layer sticker and a paper bag made in the shape of a large banana leaf: is the new packaging project created by nendo for an environmentally friendly banana.

Nendo comes up with a new packaging graphic for Shiawase Banana – bananas grown on a plantation in a national park at altitudes of 1,000 metres or more, located in the north-central region of the island of Mindanao in the Philippines – for UNIFRUTTI Japan.

“When we were asked to design the packaging, we didn’t want to just come up with something extravagant because of its high quality: that would be totally inappropriate for an environmentally friendly banana. And so we decided to steer clear of boxes or packing material, and apply stickers on the surface of the banana peel.” The designers explain.

The sticker is double layered, with the first layer faithfully reproducing the textural feel and colours of the banana peel, even down to the life like bruises and discolouration. A segment of the sticker is partially peeled. When this is peeled off, the second sticker that indicates a message with an image of the flesh of the banana in the background emerges.

Rather than just imposing some information about the banana, Nendo created an atmosphere where you are compelled to read the story behind it. Moreover, they designed a paper carrier bag to enable the people who have purchased the bananas to take them back home. The bag is designed so that when the string handle is removed you can easily pick out the bananas. If you spread open the bag you soon realize that it is made out of one sheet of paper in the shape of a large “banana leaf”. On the reverse side of the bag, a detailed description of the Shiawase Banana ensures that the banana can be enjoyed numerous time.