The circle of it: This company is creating a biodegradable fabric out of banana plants.
Bananatex
Summary
Bananatex has created a new type of fabric from naturally grown Abacá banana plants in the Phillipines. The company makes every effort to keep the agricultural eco-system sustainable and ensures that the plant is self-sufficient and requires no pesticides, fertilizer or extra water. The company also claims that these practices have contributed to reforestation in certain areas, whilst enhancing biodiversity. Fiber is extracted from the stalks of the plant and spun into yarn. The fabric receives a beeswax coating and can subsequently be used for various product specifications.
Story
The company was founded by the bag brand QWSTION who wanted to find a heavy and durable material for their bags. They have since found that the material can be used in other applications and have been collaborating with other companies that are looking for biodegradable and circular alternatives. The company has made the technoogy for Banantex open-source in an effort to encourage circular alternatives the traditionally carbon-intensive process of fashion manufacturing.
Pic Credit: Circular Material Library (right and top)
“The decision [to make the technology open-source] came naturally to us because we wanted to create change in this world and in this industry which is already so excessive in production and waste. As soon as we saw Bananatex could really offer a viable alternative to plastic-based fabrics we knew that we could have a big impact if we shared it with others rather than keep it exclusive to our own ranges.”
Christian Kaegi in an interview
Founder(s)
Christian Kaegi and Hannes Schoenegger
Headquarters
Zug, Switzerland
In business since
2020
Business type
for profit
Impact
Bananatex® has calculated that in one year, one banana tree can compensate for the CO2 emissions of production and transport of more than 10 bags.
Technology
creating new fabric from Abaca banana plants
Material
banana plants
Website
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