Textile from Banana Fiber – Bananatex®

Bananatex® is the world’s first durable, waterproof fabric made purely from Banana plants. Cultivated in the Philippines within a natural ecosystem of sustainable forestry, the plant requires no chemical treatments. Its self-sufficiency has made it an important contributor to reforestation of areas once eroded by Palm plantations, whilst enhancing the prosperity of local farmers. Three years of research and development resulted in a new material that answers questions of environmental, economic and social sustainability. As an open source project Bananatex® offers a viable alternative to the synthetic fabrics that the majority of bags are made of today.