Pakistani Student Turns Banana Waste into Eco-Friendly Fiber, earning international recognition for innovation in sustainable materials. Mohammad Sarfraz, a student at Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engineering and Management Sciences (BUITEMS), developed a method to convert banana stems into high-quality natural fiber. This breakthrough not only promotes eco-friendly fiber but also highlights Pakistan’s growing potential in green innovation.
Sarfraz’s project won the Discover Natural Fiber Initiative (DNFI) Award at the Heimtextil International Exhibition in Frankfurt, Germany. The competition included over 100 European research institutions and companies, and his banana waste-to-fiber innovation impressed the judges. The method involves extracting fiber from banana stems, converting it into yarn and composites, and finally producing fabric and other products. This fiber extraction process supports environmental conservation and reduces air and water pollution caused by burning agricultural waste.
Local manufacturing of the fiber has already begun in Sukkur and Lasbela, using low-cost production machines priced between Rs700,000 and Rs800,000. Each unit can produce up to 1,000 kilograms of fiber per acre of banana waste. European companies are interested, so jobs and economic opportunities grow from banana waste in Pakistan. Dr. Mohammad Qasim, Sarfraz’s supervisor, praised the project for promoting sustainable development in Pakistan and inspiring youth innovators.
Pakistan can produce 500 million kg of natural fiber yearly from banana waste, worth $1 billion globally. This innovation showcases how Pakistani student innovation can transform agricultural waste into renewable resources, eco-friendly materials, and industrial growth.
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Pakistani student turns banana waste into eco-friendly fiber, promoting sustainable fiber and eco-friendly materials for global recognition.
