Q: We have an old steamer trunk that belonged to my great-grandparents. It is in excellent condition inside and out except for the leather handles on each side, which have rotted away. My husband h… ...

Papyrus Australia Ltd.'s paptented technology converts the waste trunk of banana palms into alternatives to forest wood products for furniture, building, and construction.

Heartwood: adult, dark wood, more rigid and hard because of its high lignin content. Pith: central part of the trunk, very rigid and cohesive, without humidity.