Banana plantation waste is emerging as a promising fibre source for sustainable packaging, as Australian company Papyrus Australia advances technology that converts banana stalks, leaves and stems into pulp for food containers, trays, paper and board applications. The development offers a circular route for agricultural residues that would otherwise decompose and release methane.

The banana industry generates large volumes of plantation waste after harvesting, because only a relatively small part of the plant is used commercially. Much of the remaining biomass is left to break down in the field, creating emissions and representing a missed material opportunity. Papyrus Australia’s process aims to transform this underused resource into a valuable packaging feedstock.

The company’s technology converts banana plantation residues into refined pulp suitable for moulded packaging, paper and board. This positions banana fibre as a potential alternative or complement to conventional virgin fibre in selected applications, particularly where brands and retailers are seeking renewable, biodegradable and lower-impact materials.

Agricultural waste can become a packaging resource when fibre recovery, processing technology and market demand are aligned.

The environmental logic is clear. Instead of treating banana stems, leaves and stalks as waste, the material can be redirected into a productive cycle. This may help reduce methane emissions from decomposition while creating new revenue opportunities for growers and regional manufacturing partners. Annual emissions associated with banana plantation waste have been estimated at the equivalent of 900,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide.

For packaging producers, the appeal of banana fibre lies in its availability in banana-growing regions and its suitability for fibre-based products. Moulded trays, food containers, paper and board all require pulp streams that can be processed consistently. If the technology scales successfully, it could support more localised packaging production in agricultural regions with access to plantation residues.

• Banana waste can provide an alternative fibre source for packaging.
• Moulded products are a potential application for food containers and trays.
• Local processing can create value close to agricultural production areas.
• Emission reduction may come from avoiding unmanaged biomass decomposition.

Papyrus Australia is working with growers, manufacturers and converters to expand the use of banana fibre-based materials. CEO Daniel Schmidt has said that businesses with access to banana plantation waste could develop sustainable and profitable manufacturing ventures using the company’s technology. This highlights the potential for a decentralised model, where packaging materials are produced closer to the source of biomass.

The company is also moving from research toward commercialisation. In 2025, Papyrus Australia received a US$165,000 matched funding grant under the Australian Government Industry Growth Program. The funding supported early-stage commercialisation and the creation of a rapid prototyping and R&D facility at Adelaide University, including a prototype pulp line and equipment for transition toward commercial production.

The planned Adelaide production facility is expected to house the core transformation processes needed to convert plantation waste into pulp for moulded products, paper and board. For the company, this facility will be a cornerstone for scaling the technology and demonstrating whether banana fibre can move beyond pilot applications into reliable packaging supply.

The wider market context is favourable. Packaging producers and brand owners are increasingly exploring agricultural residues as alternatives to conventional fibre and fossil-based materials. Banana fibre, sugarcane bagasse, wheat straw and other crop residues are attracting interest because they can reduce waste, diversify fibre supply and support circular economy narratives when properly processed and validated.

However, commercial success will depend on more than a strong sustainability story. Banana fibre packaging must meet performance requirements for strength, food contact, forming behaviour, moisture resistance, printability, cost and supply consistency. For food containers and trays, the material must also fit existing converting and packing processes while meeting regulatory and hygiene expectations.

Previous research and industry developments suggest growing momentum. The University of New South Wales has explored recyclable and biodegradable packaging from banana plantation waste, while other projects have used banana pseudostems in corrugated packaging. These examples show that banana fibre is moving from academic research into practical packaging innovation.

Papyrus Australia’s work reflects a broader shift in sustainable packaging: waste streams are being reconsidered as material streams. If banana plantation residues can be converted at scale into reliable pulp, the technology could help reduce agricultural waste, support fibre-based packaging growth and create new value for growers, converters and food packaging producers.