PINEAPPLE LEAF FIBER EXPLORATION IN APPLICATION FOR DEVELOPMENT OF PRODUCT DESIGN

• Main Author: Maggie Pailang, Odilia
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/51005
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

Indonesia is an archipelago that has many varieties of plants that are superior in economic activity. Among these plant varieties, pineapple is one of these plants. Pineapple plants can grow in the tropics are scattered in several regions in Indonesia and produced into food (from fruit). But from this production also produces a lot of waste because people only use the fruit. Among this pineapple plant waste, there is one part that can be utilized as a new raw material, namely the leaves. This pineapple leaf can be taken of its fiber, which can be sold at a high price per kilo. The characteristics of pineapple leaf fiber that is sparkling and has high levels of cellulose can be used as yarn. This has opened the possibility of the craftsmen to utilize this fiber as raw material for making clothes. However, the limitation of processing methods and the use of mixing materials and adhesives which are considered environmentally unfriendly are a concern because the visually attractive characteristics of pineapple leaf fibers do not appear because they do not become the main ingredients and visually do not look like products made from pineapple fiber. In this study, the author tries to experiment using adhesives that are more environmentally friendly and visually emphasize this fiber even more so the use of this fiber to be used as a product is still less than optimal and is limited to fabric formation and composite mix. This research is expected to create community interest in pineapple leaf fiber and provide opportunities for the community to improve the economy.