Indian textile heritage
Banana Fibre
Tamil Nadu and Kerala banana plantations
Impact score
83/ 100
Better Choice
A blended indicator of water, carbon, chemical load, durability and recyclability.
Measured impact per kg of fibre
Water footprint1,500 L / kg
Carbon footprint1.1 kg CO₂e / kg
Process energy14 MJ / kg
Microfibre sheddingNo shedding
BiodegradableYes
Durability8 years typical wear
Recyclability68 / 100
Data confidence
lowLow confidence — limited published data, treat as indicative
Sources: NIFT 2022 · FAO 2021
Figures are cradle-to-gate averages per kilogram of fibre or fabric, not measurements of your specific garment. A typical adult shirt weighs roughly 0.2 kg.
Qualitative ratings
Water useLow
Carbon footprintLow
Chemical loadLow
DurabilityHigh
RecyclabilityGood when unblended
What is it
Bast fibre extracted from pseudostems left over after fruit harvest.
Why it matters
A true agricultural by-product, so its cultivation footprint is already paid for by the fruit crop.
Water Carbon Chemicals End of life
What you can do
Support decentralised extraction units; ideal for bags, mats and blended cloth.