Plant Fibres as the Sustainable Alternatives for Textile and Non-Textile Applications

Abstract

The textile industry relies heavily on fibers, an essential material derived from both natural and fossil resources. The conversion of agricultural waste into fibers is a sustainable, marketable solution that could reduce environmental pollution, taking into account the current supply and future demands. Cotton fibre has been heavily utilized in the clothing sector due to its excellent strength, comfort, and durability qualities. However, it also has some negative effects on the environment, necessitating a replacement with a more environmentally friendly fibre like banana fibre. Banana fibre is a good-quality, naturally occurring, readily obtainable fibre that has low density, the right stiffness, and good mechanical strength. This study investigates the possibility of banana fibre as a cotton fibre replace in the textile industry. Banana fibers were softened using traditional technique, such as boiling in distilled water for several minutes and soaking in sodium hydroxide (NaOH) at different concentrations ranging from 1% to 10%. The resulting fibers were blended with polyester cotton at a 10:90 ratio. This study investigates the use of banana fibre as an alternative to cotton fibre in textiles applications.