Strange innovation from banana tree trunks makes a Taiwanese company sought after

(Dan Tri) - International fashion brands are "on edge" over a strange initiative from Taiwan: Using banana stems to weave socks and make leather. A green revolution is threatening the billion-dollar position of the cotton industry.

When talking about Taiwan (China) today, the world often thinks of silicon wafers and its dominance in the global semiconductor industry. However, few people know that before becoming a technology powerhouse, this island was once known as the "banana kingdom" in 1960. At that time, the yellow color of bananas, not the black color of electronic chips, was the symbol of export prosperity.

And now, in an effort to bridge the glorious past with a sustainable future, visionary entrepreneur Nelson Yang is leading a green revolution in rural Changhua. His project, Farm to Material, is doing something seemingly crazy: turning worthless agricultural waste into valuable catwalk resources.

The story began with a difficult request from European sports shoe brands in 2008. Mr. Yang shared with Reuters: "They asked us how to produce food and create materials on the same area of ​​arable land. It was a double problem of economics and environment."

Instead of trading farmland for cotton or timber, Nelson Yang saw a gold mine in what was discarded: the pseudostem—the spongy core at the center of banana plants—that farmers often cut off and leave to rot in the fields after harvesting the fruit.

The core part in the middle of the banana tree, which is usually discarded after harvest, is now used to make socks and eco-leather (Photo: The Star).

The "transformation" of technology and the ESG economic problem

Farm to Material’s process is a prime example of the circular economy model – a key pillar in the ESG strategy that every major corporation is pursuing. Discarded banana stems are collected, crushed, dried and processed through technical steps to extract the fiber.

The product of Mr. Yang’s project does not stop at the initial idea level but has begun to form potential practical applications. The processed banana fibers are spun into thread, then mixed with cotton to weave durable socks.

Deep processing technology even allows this fiber to be turned into eco-leather or vegan leather, a material that is being eagerly sought after by the high-end fashion world to replace animal leather, which has caused much controversy regarding ethics and the environment.

From a financial perspective, this initiative has "scratched the itch" of the business world by simultaneously solving two of the biggest worries. First, it makes the burden of raw material costs become light. Instead of spending tons of money on importing cotton, businesses can take advantage of the source of "free" waste, thereby optimizing profits.

Second, this is the solution to the export problem. As demanding markets such as Europe and America increasingly tighten environmental regulations, a product made from recycled banana stems will be an absolute competitive advantage, helping businesses avoid expensive carbon taxes and confidently penetrate the international market.

Although Mr. Yang’s business admits it is still in its early stages and has yet to secure large-scale commercial orders from fashion giants, experts see huge potential in this model. This is not just about selling fabrics, this is about selling solutions to the growing pressure from Gen Z consumers - a generation willing to pay more for sustainable products.

Challenging the cotton "empire": When the tiny one fights the giant

The global textile industry is facing an existential crisis called "water". Cotton - the "king" of natural fibers - is actually one of the most "thirsty" crops on the planet.

It takes 2,700 liters of water to produce a single cotton T-shirt, enough for one person to drink for 2.5 years. In a climate of climate change and drought, the dependence on cotton is a huge supply chain risk.

This is the "narrow door" for banana fiber to penetrate the market. Ms. Charlotte Chiang, Director of the Innovation and Sustainable Design Department of the Taiwan Textile Federation, gave a convincing assessment: "In terms of water consumption, banana fiber is far superior to traditional cotton. Not to mention, the absorbency and stability of supply make this material extremely promising."

Unlike cotton, which is sensitive to weather and pests, bananas are easygoing and grow year-round. This stability is a golden factor for supply chain management, helping fashion brands avoid supply shocks.

Looking at the bigger picture, the Farm to Material project is not alone. Around the world, a wave of investment in biomaterials is taking place stronger than ever.

In Europe, tech company Spinnova is turning wood and agricultural waste into eco-fibers for giants like Adidas and Bestseller. On the other side of the world, startups like Galy are looking to grow cotton in the lab to reduce dependence on land.

In this race, Taiwan has a distinct competitive advantage. If the problem of industrial production scale can be solved, banana fiber can completely become a new strategic "weapon", helping Taiwan diversify its economy, not just standing on a single tripod of semiconductors.

Nelson Yang's innovative banana fiber promises to provide an eco-friendly material for sneakers, surpassing cotton in terms of sustainability and absorbency (Photo: Reuters).

What future for "banana peel fashion"?

Of course, the road from lab idea to mass-market shelves is long and thorny. Nelson Yang’s biggest challenge now is not technology, but market thinking. He needs to convince global supply chains that already operate smoothly with cotton and polyester to accept a “newcomer,” and optimize the process to bring the product’s cost down to competitive levels.

But the opportunities are bigger than ever. With brands like Nike, Adidas and Zara all committed to a Net Zero roadmap, they are scrambling to find new materials. Initiatives like Farm to Material are the missing piece to the sustainable fashion puzzle.

Nelson Yang’s story goes beyond turning banana fiber into fabric. It is a living testament to modern business thinking: Sustainable profits must come from solving environmental pain. When “past heritage” (banana plants) meets “future technology”, we can hope for a new wave of textiles where waste is literally turned into pure gold.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/kinh-doanh/sang-kien-la-tu-than-cay-chuoi-khien-mot-cong-ty-dai-loan-duoc-san-lung-20251208213300987.htm