Geography: South East Asia; India
Capital commitment to-date: USD 13.8 million
Sector: Bio-Resources; Agricultural Waste
Platform established: 2009
Green TerraFirma Ltd. (“GTL”), headquartered in Singapore, uses coconut husks to produce sustainable and high value products through its existing plants in the Philippines, where it owns three factories and India, where it operates a Joint Venture partnership. With over 10 years experience in coir, GTL is currently expanding distribution in consumer and commercial channels in the US, Europe, Australia and China.
GTL’s production process utilises a multi-stage system whereby coconut husks are processed into saleable products. The coco-peat processing involves washing and filtering facilities, together with retail packaging machines and warehouse storage. Coco-fiber processing involves sun drying and artificial drying after which the product is baled to be shipped and sold in the market. Both coco-peat and coco-fiber can be further processed to produce high value products, including coco-peat grow bags and geo-textiles for desertification control. Coco-peat and coco-fiber products contribute to sustainability three ways: by replacing the usage of traditional, finite, bogland peat with renewable coco-peat, by contributing to global anti-desertification efforts, and by providing a new source of biomass fuel in developing countries. Most coconut growers place no value on their coconut husks and leave them behind as waste. By buying the coconut husks from growers and paying a fair price, GTL provides income and employment in poor communities.
Sindicatum is the controlling shareholder of GTL and provides ongoing strategic advice to GTL management.