Felipe Valencia Cano

Colombian engineer creating biodegradable alternatives to single-use plastics from agricultural waste

Felipe Valencia Cano (b. 1990) is a Colombian materials scientist whose company BioFibra has revolutionized biodegradable packaging using banana plant residues. Starting in 2020 with a university lab prototype, he developed a patented process converting agricultural waste into compostable materials that degrade in 90 days. His innovation prevents 2 million kg of banana waste annually while replacing 10 million plastic bags in Latin America's food industry. The resulting material maintains structural integrity at high temperatures, making it ideal for hot food containers.

After winning the 2023 Global Cleantech Innovators award, Felipe expanded operations to Costa Rica and the Philippines. His open-source production manuals have empowered small farmers to create their own microfactories, creating 300+ rural jobs. A 2024 partnership with McDonald's Colombia introduced biodegradable burger boxes, reducing their plastic use by 70%. His TED Talk 'Waste into Wonder' (2024) has over 2 million views, inspiring similar initiatives in Ghana and Indonesia. Current R&D focuses on seaweed-based packaging for seafood industries, aiming to eliminate 50 million plastic containers by 2025.