Is water hyacinth greener on the other side? a perspective on the valorization of invasive-plant biomass surplus

The global expansion of invasive plant species generates vast biomass surpluses that challenge freshwater ecosystems while simultaneously offering opportunities for circular bioeconomy innovation. Pontederia crassipes (Mart.) [formerly known as Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms] is no exception, representing one of the most abundant invasive plant biomasses worldwide and an underexplored resource with significant potential for circular bioeconomy applications. This perspective explores whether water hyacinth may indeed be “greener on the other side” by evaluating its suitability for biomass valorization in multiple sectors. Agricultural applications remain one of the most promising pathways because water hyacinth nutrient-rich biomass supports composting, anaerobic digestion, mulching, and fertilizer production. Nevertheless, challenges such as metal accumulation require strict site-specific screening to ensure safe use. Beyond agriculture, water hyacinth can be processed through mechanical harvesting, biochemical fractionation, thermochemical conversion, and biological pretreatment, enabling integration into diverse value chains, including bioenergy, biochar, adsorbents, biocomposites, and specialty biochemicals. The presented comparison revealed that water hyacinth biomass may perform comparably or outperform other lignocellulosic feedstocks in textiles, composites, acoustics, and related sectors. Despite their versatility, operational constraints still limit large-scale deployment, including harvest logistics, drying energy, seasonal variability, contaminant accumulation, standardization gaps, and incomplete life-cycle assessment studies. Future perspectives highlight the need for decentralized biomass processing, integrated biorefineries, local building material production, and regenerative agriculture systems that link ecosystem restoration with biomass valorization. Together, these insights position water hyacinth as a viable bioeconomic resource when ecological control, sustainability, and value chain integration are strategically aligned.