Water Absorbency
In comparison to other plant fibers such as jute, flax, kenaf, sisal hemp and pineapple leaf fibers, banana stems are highly absorbent. High water absorption is advantageous in paper making because it reduces the binding time of chemicals used to break down the plant fibers into smaller components.
This makes banana stem fiber a good alternative for paper making, because it absorbs more water than other common fibers used in paper making.
Banana fibers absorb and release the absorbed water quite easily.
Flexibility and Elasticity
Banana stem fiber is both flexible and elastic, which allows for its use in a vast array of products from ropes to bandages. Banana stems have been found to be twice as strong as coir pith fiber, which is another popular alternative for paper making.
Biodegradability
Banana stem fiber is fast becoming an attractive option in the world of bioplastics because it takes only four weeks to decompose, as compared to the several years required by synthetic plastics.
Banana plants and fibers may be composted or digested with alkali cellulose producing industrial enzymes, as a means to create industrial sugars. These industrial sugars can then be used as a substrate for yeast and other microorganisms useful in the production of ethanol, acetic acid, butanol, and methane gas.