Solutions for a sustainable future are all around us. Using natural resources and a little science, students and staff in a research initiative at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) are developing bio-based composite reinforcements for everyday products.

There are many natural fibers that can be explored for these applications, but as Interesting Engineering reported, student research interns focused on using the humble banana plant to make lightweight bicycle and car parts.

“You really wouldn’t expect that when you look at a banana tree,” student Brianna Greer told ORNL. “You just wouldn’t think it was a bicycle part.”

Biocomposites are an environmentally friendly alternative to synthetic materials. They are degradable, renewable, non-toxic and are often used in cars to reduce overall weight, which in turn can improve fuel efficiency.

It is also a huge industry that is expected to grow by nearly 10% and reach a net worth of approximately $41 billion by 2025, according to a scientific article in the National Library of Medicine.

“The idea is basically to further develop their skills and experience in dealing with bio-based materials, additive manufacturing and digitalization for overall sustainable production,” says Amber Hubbard, one of the associates leading the study.

Emma Drake, another student on the project, worked with Greer to study banana fiber, although other materials such as coconut, flax and hemp were also considered. Drake focused on the chemical aspect, using cellulose to make the fiber surface more water-repellent.

The fibers used are not the banana fruit, but the stem or trunk of the banana plant itself. This can be cleaned, dried and formed into fiber bundles, as the report details. This led to the development of a fiber-reinforced bicycle wheel.

Natural fibers are abundant and inexpensive to extract, while synthetic alternatives can produce toxic byproducts and are difficult to recycle.

A number of bio-based building materials have already been tested around the world. In the UK, teams have been working with a fibrous byproduct of sugar cane to create an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional bricks and environmentally harmful concrete.

Seaweed has been tested as a building material due to its antibacterial, fire-resistant and non-toxic properties, while others have started 3D printing coffee grounds for disposable containers as an alternative to plastics.

These efforts are helping to steer the industry toward more sustainable practices, which will improve the environment for all of us and reduce planet-warming pollution. They are also bringing a new generation of scientists into play.

“It’s very interesting that the building seems to be more vibrant when the summer students come,” Hubbard told ORNL. “It’s more energetic because all these students come in with a lot of passion and enthusiasm. It reinvigorates the project.”

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