Banana paper

Banana paper is used in two different senses: to refer to a paper made from the bark of the banana plant, mainly used for artistic purposes, or paper made from banana fiber, obtained from an industrialized process, from the stem and the non utilizable fruits. This paper can be either hand-made or made by industrialized machine.

The banana agro-industry processes each year 42 million tons of bananas with 20,000 square kilometres planted.fact|date=October 2007 This industry generates numerous wastes such as: the plastic that wrap the bananas, plastic cords to tie the wrapping, damaged bananas and the pinzote (stems). An alarming quantity of over 10 million metric Tons of pinzote is thrown in landfills or even worse in local rivers. The pinzote is composed 92% of water, 3% of resins and 2% glucose, the rest is vegetal fiber.fact|date=October 2007 This particular composition makes it decompose with the solid component not getting destroyed. This causes a severe impact on the surrounding ecosystems, the detriment of river sand underground waters, also the massive reproduction of flies and nauseous smells. Agro-industrial fibers come from the waste of processing common agricultural products.

Packing of bananas: as a result of pulling apart the banana bunches from the main stem, we have the pinzote left over and it contains 5% of usable fiber to manufacture paper.fact|date=October 2007

* [http://www.ecopaper.com/bananapaper/howitsmade How organic banana paper is made]

* [http://www.justpaper.com/bananapaper-collection-zoom3.html a close-up image of banana paper]

* [http://www.articlesextra.com/banana-paper-morishima.htm an interview with the inventor and an image of production]