Toward sustainable packaging: physicochemical assessment of banana leaf-derived paper versus kraft and recycled papers

Abstract Banana leaves represent an abundant and underexploited lignocellulosic resource with potential for sustainable packaging applications. This study evaluates uncoated banana leaf paper in comparison with conventional kraft and recycled papers by analyzing structural, mechanical, barrier, thermal, and optical properties. Banana leaf paper exhibited the highest water vapor permeability (~ 7.0 × 10⁻⁴ g/m s Pa), moderate stiffness (~ 1.0 × 10 5 N/m), low tensile strength (~ 7 MPa), and the lowest luminosity (L* = 37.417), reflecting its naturally darker pigmentation. Despite mechanical limitations, it presented low water solubility and thermal stability comparable to kraft and recycled papers, with major degradation occurring between 300 and 350 °C. These results indicate that banana leaf paper is suitable for short-shelf-life or dry-food packaging and can serve as a biodegradable, regionally sourced alternative to wood-based fibers. The study highlights the material’s ecological advantages and identifies improvement strategies, such as natural coatings or fiber reinforcement, to enhance performance for broader packaging applications. Overall, the findings support banana leaf biomass as a promising feedstock for sustainable packaging materials within the circular bioeconomy.