Banana Peel as an Alternative Shoe Polish

Review of Related Literature

A banana peel is also called banana skin in British English, it is the outer covering of the banana

fruit. Bananas are popular fruit consumed worldwide with a yearly production of over 165

million tones in 2011. Once the peel is removed, the fruit can be eaten raw or cooked and the

peel is generally discarded. Because of this removal of the banana peel, a significant amount of

organic waste is generated.

The nutritional value of banana peel depends on the stage of maturity and the cultivar; for

example, plantain peels contain less fiber than dessert banana peels, and lignin content

increases with ripening. On average, banana peels contain 6-9% dry matter of protein and 20-

30% fiber. Green plantain peels contain 40% starch that is transformed into sugars after

ripening. Green banana peels contain much less starch for about 15%. White ripe banana peels

contain up to 30% free sugars. Since medieval times, dubbin, a waxen merchandise was used to

soften and waterproof leather; nevertheless, it did non leave radiance. It was made from

natural wax, oil, sodium carbonate, ash and tallow. As leather with a high natural veneer

became popular in the 18th century. A high calendared clothing became of import. Peculiarly

on places and boots. In most instances, an assortment of homemade gloss were used to supply

this coating.
In the 19th century, many signifiers of shoe polish became available. Yet, were seldom referred

to a shoe polish or boots polish. Alternatively, the were frequently called shoe polish or merely

continued to be referred as dubbin. Shoe polish is usually made from a mix of natural and

synthetic materials including naphtha, turpentine, dyes, and gum Arabic using straightforward

chemical engineering processes. Shoe polish can be toxic and if misused, can stain skin. Base on

the information, banana peels can be use to shine shoes so we researchers decided to come up

with the study of making shoe polish out of banana peels.

This is what we will make: First, we will skin the banana. We will take the fruit out and eat it,

but we must do certain, we keep the tegument. Second, utilizing the interior liner of the banana

tegument. We will grind it and rub it all over the shoe merely, as we if we were utilizing polish.

Last, buff it. Once we have wiped the banana tegument over the shoe, we will buff it with soft

fabric.

Tannin, an astringent that is an important ingredients in the process of tanning leather, can be

found in banana peels. The levels of tannins in green bananas range from 122.6 to 241.4 mg. As

banana ripen, the tannin content decreases and becomes part of the pulp. This makes it an

efficient ingredients for making shoe polish. We decided to use banana peels because there is a

significant amount of banana peel waste being generated all around the world, so instead of

throwing them away, letting them rot, its better to put them to good use.
Banana peels contain potassium that is commonly found in conventional shoe polish products.

The oil from the banana skin will absorb into the leather resulting in shiny shoes will last

longer. The materials needed for our product are very easy to get and doesn't cost much well.

The process of making the product won't take long either. It is very affordable and effective

product.

References:

https://www.livescience.com/45005-banana-nutrition-facts.html

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banana_peel

https://lifehacker.com/5402450/polish-your-shoes-with-a-banana

https://www.omicsonline.org/open-access/nutrient-and-heavy-metal-composition-of-plantain-

musa-paradisiaca-and-banana-musa-paradisiaca-peels-2155-9600-1000370.php?aid=52304

https://pioneeringthesimplelife.org/2017/04/19/banana-peel-shoe-polish/