A team of scientists from the National Textile University successfully extracted fibre from banana bark. It made it usable for the textile industry, opening up new possibilities for Pakistan’s troubled textile sector. The team, led by Dr Yasir Nawab, is positive that this development has the potential to revolutionize the textile sector and bolster the struggling economy as it transforms fruit waste into raw materials for producing textile fibres. Consumers’ growing awareness of ethical fashion has led to an ever-increasing demand for natural fibres in not just garments but the whole textile industry, said Mujeebullah Khan, a textile industry team member.
He added that this invention would save billions of dollars in foreign exchange and reduce environmental pollution by extracting one million tons of fibre from banana stems and turning them into yarn. Using 90% of the leftover banana crop waste to produce fertilizer and electricity will change farmers’ lives.
Mujeebullah Khan informed that the team is also targeting other countries known for banana production, with Kenya and Uganda being the first choice. In addition to bananas, the team extracts yarn from corn husks, other fruits, and vegetable waste. Many international brands use this yarn, and Pakistani exporters are also interested.
Natural fibre from banana trees consists of cellulose, lignin, and hemicelluloses. Banana fibres’ appearance is similar to bamboo and ramie fibres, but they are known for their superior smoothness, he said. However, as there is a growing demand for eco-friendly textile fabrics, banana fibres are becoming more significant.
He said people currently use banana fibre to make garments, neckties, cushion covers, tablecloths, curtains, and other items. The physical properties of banana fibres, such as strong moisture absorption, natural shine, high strength, and minimal elongation, make them ideal for apparel production.
This versatile fibre offers an eco-friendly alternative to traditional textiles and supports sustainable fashion practices.
Mujeebullah Khan said that using fruits to extract fibres for fabric production represents a unique and innovative development in fibre technology. Natural fibres like cotton, wool, silk, and linen have long been known to the textile industry, but using fruits is a new trend.
He said that Pakistan’s sugarcane production is surplus, which can generate similar benefits. The fruit’s cane stalk, or bagasse, yields sugarcane fibre. In some countries, the garment industry uses bagasse, a waste product, to make textile fibres. Bagasse has immense potential for use in the medical field.
