Paper and material from banana stem waste
by L. S. A. Wedaarachchi
|
IDA - WP Chairman Wasantha
Jayasingha
|
A project to produce paper and material out of banana stem waste was
introduced by a team of Japanese experts at a workshop organised by the
Industrial Development Authority (IDA).
Prof. Hiroshi Morishima of the Nagoya City University in Japan with a
group of university students and two professors from the University of
Colombo conducted the village based workshop at the "Landmade Paper
Project Centre" in Polgasovita Venivalkola in the suburbs close to
Colombo.
Prof. Morishima has developed a chemical free method, based on
Japanese state of the art technology to produce paper and material from
banana stem waste. It is called "The banana green gold project" in
Japan. According to Wasantha Jayasinghe, Chairman of IDA-WP, the fibre
from banana stem could be a very valuable raw material for the
manufacture of clothing material.
"The main objective is that banana fibre could be used for the
handloom industry in Sri Lanka. Material for shirts, trousers and
ladies' garments can be turned out using banana fibre. The chemical free
handmade material has become a luxury item in Japan and Europe specially
during the winter season. If Sri Lanka succeeds in this project it will
be a boost for Sri Lanka's handloom industry too," he said.
He said that the IDA's aim is to take the development process to the
grassroot level as a concept under the "Mahinda Chintana".
|
Prof. Hiroshi Morishima examines the banana stem with university
students |
According to Jayasinghe the excess of banana based raw materials can
be exported as pulp or as fibre to Japan and EU countries. The Nagoya
city university, has already placed an order for 500 kgs of banana fibre
for the IDA.
The pulp from banana stem would be the source of raw material to make
handmade paper. The manufacturing technique in making re-cycled paper is
an environmental friendly chemical free process.
The banana paper and material can be manufactured by combining the
traditional Japanese paper making process and high technology. Its
production efficiency is such that from one ton of banana waste 20
workers can produce 24,000 A4 sheets or wrapping paper per day, he said.
Sri Lanka can export the pulp of banana to develop nations as an
alternative resource to timber thus earning foreign exchange.
The Banana Stem waste workshop is a result of a resource survey in
the Homagama Divisional Secretariat by the University of Colombo under
the guidance of Prof. Lakshman Dissanayaka at the request of the IDA.
The main focus of the survey was to identify the natural resources
which can be used for grassroot level industries.
[email protected]
|
