# Banana-Based Wallets These Alternative Vegan Wallets are Made from Discarded Banana Fibers By Laura McQuarrie | Published 2016-09-03 | Eco Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/banana-fiber References: [pastemagazine](https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2016/08/from-tree-to-pocket-matt-simpson-is-turning-banana.html) & [facebook](https://www.facebook.com/greenbananapaperco?fref=nf) In place of using leather as the main material for the wallet it creates, the [Green Banana Paper Co.](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/plantbased-fish-product) from Kosrae, Micronesia uses discarded banana fibers instead. Beyond just creating a new type of product for consumers, the Green Banana Paper Co. succeeds in making goods that are cruelty-free, repurposing waste and providing jobs for locals on the island. The water-resistant wallets are created in a process that involves boiling the banana fibers to extract cellulose so that it can be ground into a pulp, which is then shaped and screen-printed. Alongside a range of [synthetic vegan fabrics](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/vegan-leather-purses), many new "leather" products are being created from unusual sources like [pineapple fibers, mushrooms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/myco-travel-pouch) and even kombucha. What all of these items have in common is that they provide a more sustainable way to make textiles from food waste. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 5.4/10 - Popularity: 71% | Activity: 82% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Eco](https://www.trendhunter.com/eco) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Sustainable Textiles:** Green Banana Paper Co. demonstrates the trend of using discarded food waste, like banana fibers, to create sustainable textiles. - **Alternative Leather:** The emergence of vegan wallets made from banana fibers showcases the trend of exploring alternative materials to traditional leather. - **Local Job Creation:** The Green Banana Paper Co.'s initiative not only promotes sustainable practices but also contributes to local job creation. ### Where This Applies - **Fashion Retail:** The fashion retail industry can leverage the trend of sustainable textiles by offering eco-friendly and cruelty-free products, like banana-based wallets. - **Textile Manufacturing:** The textile manufacturing industry can tap into the trend of alternative leather by incorporating innovative materials, such as banana fibers, into their production processes. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Plant-Based Cooking Films](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/banana-pack.md) - [PETA-Approved Leather Alternatives](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/biodegradable-leather-alternative.md) - [Fruit-Based Leather Alternatives](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/peelsphere.md) - [Banana-Made Luxury Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/balenciaga-4.md) - [Banana-Based Denim Collections](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bananabased-denim-collections.md) - [Cruelty-Free Leather Alternatives](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/crueltyfree-leather-alternative.md) - [Mycelium Leather Bags](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/myco-travel-pouch.md) - [Plastic-Free Circular Bags](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/stella-mccartney-3.md) - [Alt Leather Phone Cases](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/casetify-bioveg-collection.md)