Bananas are harvested two to four times a year, and their stems used to be cut down and left to rot after being harvested. Fibrous material is extracted from those stems and recycled as a raw biomass material. Nisshinbo's banana fiber has been developed as a next-generation ecological material.
Mild and naturally uneven with the slightly coarse feel unique to natural fibers
Banana fibers are not even and have a somewhat rough texture because of their unusual fiber shape and thickness. This natural texture and feel are unique to the banana tree.
Good moisture- and water-absorbing property. Quickly absorbs perspiration yet remains dry to the touch.
Banana fibers expand when wet, naturally creating cavities. Accordingly, the more moisture or water is absorbed, so its diffusiveness improves. In other words, they efficiently absorb perspiration and water, and then dry quickly.
Shirts with banana fibers blended into the fabric are highly regarded for their comfort when worn - especially in summer.
Alleviates concerns about cotton shortages arising from the bio-fuel issue
Cotton has long played a central role as a natural fiber, but in reality, cotton cultivation often has to compete economically with wheat, soybeans and corn, etc., so farmers sow different crops depending on the market situation.
There is a high risk that cotton fields may be used to grow grain in the near future due to the increased popularity of bio-fuels and the resultant food shortages. A shortfall in cotton supplies has been forecast due to the global increase in demand for fiber and a change in crop choices.
Mottainai! [What a waste!] A superior yet underappreciated resource!
About 100 million tons of bananas are harvested annually worldwide, but the stems on which they grow are pruned off, as they are no longer productive. About a billion tons of pruned stems are thought to be left to rot every year. They ultimately compost into the soil, but these stems contain high quality fibers. About 3% of the fibers in all the stems can actually be used, but if this resource is fully utilized, it has been calculated that fibrous materials equivalent to 30 million tons of cotton can be harvested.
Truly ecological! No additional fields required!
Natural materials have recently been attracting more attention, and dedicated acreage is necessary just to harvest fibers from cotton, linen, and eucalyptus, which is the raw material for tencel fiber. However, banana has long been grown as a product for both export and local consumption, so there are already established plantations for food production. Since the stems used to produce these fibers were previously just discarded amidst the banana harvest, no new cultivated acreage is required.
