Rafael Garzon

Colombian bioengineer creating edible packaging materials from Amazonian plant fibers to eliminate plastic waste

Rafael Garzon is a Colombian bioengineer and founder of BioPack Colombia, a startup producing 100% biodegradable packaging from Amazonian plant extracts. His innovation has diverted over 2 million kg of plastic waste from the Amazon basin since 2017, earning him the 2022 Young Champion of the Earth Award from the United Nations Environment Programme.

Growing up near Leticia in the Amazon rainforest, Garzon witnessed plastic pollution's impact on indigenous communities. After studying at Universidad de los Andes, he developed a patented process using chontaduro palm and chambira fiber to create durable, water-resistant packaging materials. His products are now used by 85% of Bogotá's organic food stores and have a shelf life exceeding traditional bioplastics by 40%.

BioPack's community workshops train indigenous artisans to produce packaging materials, creating sustainable income streams while preserving traditional weaving techniques. Garzon's 2020 collaboration with Nestlé Colombia diverted 70% of the company's single-use plastics in the region. His research on biopolymer crystallization processes was featured in Science Advances, highlighting how natural polymers can outperform synthetic alternatives.

Garzon's vision extends to global markets through his LinkedIn partnership program, which connects Latin American bioengineers with international firms. His TEDx talk "How Amazonian Plants Can End Plastic Waste" has been translated into 12 languages. In 2023, BioPack expanded operations to Peru and Brazil, with plans to eliminate 10 million kg of plastic annually by 2025.