Abaca (Musa textilis) is an annual crop and a source of natural fiber.

The strength of abaca

dried fiber is above of the other kinds of fiber and it has high quality. The produced fiber from the
pseudostem is ecofriendly and sustainable. Mostly, abaca fiber is already used as the sources of pulp
raw material. Musa textilis is one of the bananas species that origin from Philippine, but it also can
be found in Kalimantan, Sumatera (especially Aceh Timur and Simelue island), and North Sulawesi.
Musa textilis is also called as manila, fibril, and bu’I banana ( named in Aceh timur). Historically,
Musa textilis (abaca) has been a significant natural fiber resource in the Philippines and was widely
used in the early 20th century (Global Market Insights, 2021).

The Philippine Abaca plays a vital role in the growing global advocacy for environmental
protection and forest conservation. The strong worldwide interest and acceptability for “green” and
“organic” products made manufacturing companies, especially in the US and Europe, turn to natural
and bio-degradable raw materials like Abaca. Being the strongest among all natural fibers and
having superior qualities over other materials, abaca fibers are preferred over man-made fibers such
as plastics and other synthetic materials by various industries around the world.

The abacá plant is stoloniferous, meaning that the plant produces runners or shoots along
the ground that then root at each segment. Cutting and transplanting rooted runners is the primary
technique for creating new plants, since seed growth is substantially slower. Abacá has a "false
trunk" or pseudostem about 6–15 inches (15–38 cm) in diameter. According to Mamun et al., 2015,
the characteristics of abaca fiber, such as strength and physical properties, vary based on the
extraction technique and leaf position. The unique characteristics of abaca fiber, including resistance
to salinity, mechanical strength, flexibility, and durability, have led to increased usage in multiple
industries. However, the cultivation of abaca faces challenges from Fusarium oxysporum f. sp.
cubense, a lethal disease with limited control methods (Global Market Insights, 2021).

Abaca fiber, widely used in specialized paper products such as tea bags, filter paper, and
banknotes, is preferred over other fibers due to its good tensile strength and resistance to rotting
with superior strength and eco-friendly characteristics, abaca fiber is already used as a source of
pulp raw material (A Darmawan et al., 2020). According to Llanes-Cedeño et al., 2019, Abaca fiber's
unique characteristics have led to its adoption in the automotive industry as a substitute for
fiberglass, resulting in weight reduction and cost savings. Additionally, hemp is used in specialty-
quality papers like cigarette, bible, currency, and insulating paper (Bambach, 2017). The global
market for abaca fiber is expected to witness significant growth due to the increasing adoption of
abaca-reinforced hybrid materials and its sustainability (Global Market Insights, 2021).