DLS-CSB, DLSU designers develop banana leather as eco-friendly alternative to synthetic leather

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Designers from the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde and De La Salle University Manila have developed banana leather as an eco-friendly alternative to synthetic leather. 

In Martin Javier's "Game Changer" segment in "24 Oras" Monday, Tal de Guzman, a faculty member in DLS-CSB's Fashion Design and Merchandising Program, shared that they use banana waste such as chunks and peels for the material. 

"Maraming ways na banana chunks and peels. We are calling this a bio-based leather kasi we're mixing banana and alginate. Consumers now are really more conscious about what they buy, and we want na bigyan sila ng alternative," she said. 

She developed the banana leather with Micca Amor and Vinz Mamalateo. 

According to De Guzman, the banana leather will decompose when disposed of since it's made of biodegradable material. 

"Even if it goes to the landfill, hindi lang siya makaka-affect dun, parang kumbaga magdedecompose lang siya," she said. 

To create the banana leather, Amor explained that they first source banana waste, which undergoes extraction and treatment for anti-mold. They then combine the banana fiber with a custom bio-based mixture. 

The team's designs also showcase the banana's natural fibers. Per de Guzman, they want people to know that their material is made of plants, adding, "We don't want to imitate just animal leather." 

She also attested to the banana leather's durability and the material's potential to allow consumers to choose without having to compromise. 

"Because it's with alginate, it's actually pretty durable. It's malleable, hindi siya nasisira nang madali kahit i-crumple mo siya," she said. 

"We can come to a point where it's not just a compromise. Hindi siya galing sa hayop, hindi siya plastic. More designers really want to be able to explore materials that won't kill our planet," she added. 

—CDC, GMA Integrated News