If someone is questioned about the raw material used to make paper, the instant answer is wood. Those who know a little more about the papermaking process would mention agricultural waste and recycled paper. Ironically, no one would talk about banana fibre or coconut shells, raw materials that can make the paper industry sustainable in the long run.

The trend of using banana fibre to manufacture handmade paper is now picking up, especially in developing nations like India. The development is noteworthy, as banana paper can be 300 times stronger than the normal paper. While paper from woodpulp has a bursting force (unit to measure paper strength) in the range of 15-20 units, banana paper's strength is as high as 44 bursting force.

The use of the fibre can also solve a problem: disposal of the plant's trunk. The plant bears fruit once in its lifetime; after harvesting, most of it is nothing more than waste. Thus, it needs to be disposed of