Solutions through the new use for a waste of banana crop to develop products in aquaculture and plastics sector (BAQUA)

Short description of the project: LIFE BAQUA was a three-year project funded by the Environment and Climate Action LIFE Programme, aimed at establishing a new circular economy approach to take advantage of wastes from banana plantation (pseudo stem of the plant).

Tangible results: From this pseudo stem, and using mechanical processing, two different raw materials have been obtained: (i) high quality natural fibres used to obtain natural reinforced composites, which, as such, can be applied to the automotive sector, as well as bio-based films, which can be employed in the plantation for agricultural use and in the packaging of fish feed; and (ii) residual pulp to develop antioxidant additives which serve as a supplement in the production of fish diets for aquaculture.

Application/relevance: These actions demonstrate a new circular economic viability, reduce CO2 and N2O emissions, and improve fish feed quality.