Islamabad
A team of scientists from National Textile University successfully extracted fiber from banana bark and made it usable for the textile industry, opening up new possibilities for Pakistan’s troubled textile sector.
The team, led by Dr. Yasir Nawab and supported by Mujeebullah Khan, an investor, 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 the production of textile fibers.
Consumers’ growing awareness of ethical fashion has led to an ever-increasing demand for the use of natural fibers in not just garments but the whole textile industry, said Mujeebullah Khan.
He added that this invention will not only save billions of dollars in foreign exchange but also reduce environmental pollution by extracting one million tons of fiber from banana stems and turning them into yarn.
Farmers’ lives will change as a result of using 90% of the leftover banana crop waste to produce fertilizer and electricity.
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 fiber from banana trees consists of cellulose, lignin, and hemicelluloses. The appearance of banana fibers is similar to bamboo and ramie fibers, but they are known for their superior smoothness, he said.
However, as there is a growing demand for eco-friendly textile fabrics, the significance of banana fibers is increasing.
Currently, he said, people use banana fiber to make garments, neckties, cushion covers, tablecloths, curtains, and other items. The physical properties of banana fibers, such as strong moisture absorption, natural shine, high strength, and minimal elongation, make them ideal for apparel production.
This versatile fiber offers an eco-friendly alternative to traditional textiles and supports sustainable fashion practices.
Mujeebullah Khan said that the use of fruits to extract fibers for fabric production represents a unique and innovative development in the field of fiber technology. Natural fibers like cotton, wool, silk, and linen have long been known to the textile industry, but the utilization of fruits is a new trend.
He said that sugarcane production in Pakistan is surplus, which can generate similar benefits. The fruit’s cane stalk, also known as bagasse, yields sugarcane fiber.
In some countries, the garment industry uses bagasse, a waste product, to make textile fibers. It also has immense potential application in the medical field.
