Transformation of banana peels into banana peel wood

We describe a strategy developed to transform banana peels into a wood-like material with a brown color ranging from very dark to brownish. We demonstrate that this wood is strong enough to be carved and sculptured, shaped mechanically and assembled into decorative or useful objects with glue and/or screws. This new material feels like wood, can reach the density of Ebony (1.2 g.cm-3) and the mechanical properties of Balsa (0.8 < flexion Young modulus < 3 GPa) and is rather hydrophobic (75°< contact angle < 102°). Since approximately 135 million tons of bananas are produced every year worldwide and that peel accounts for as high as 40% of their weight, this makes it a valuable source for producing an alternative to natural wood with an annual production that could reach 2 million tons (6% of the annual production of banana peel). This new wood-like material could advantageously replace wood of endangered species.