Identifying Suitable Food Grade Waste Materials as Eco-Friendly Fabric: A Curriculum Framework for Sustainable Fashion Design

Abstract

The identification of suitable food grade waste materials for eco-friendly fabric production represents a critical but underexplored domain in Malaysian fashion design education. The present research examines three primary categories of food grade waste with the highest potential for textile application in Malaysia: pineapple leaf fibre (approximately 30%), banana fibre (approximately 20%), and citrus or fruit-derived fibre (approximately 17%), as determined through combined analysis of respondent perceptions and secondary data from agricultural waste documentation. Adopting a quantitative cross-sectional design supported by documentary analysis, the study administered a structured survey to 100 respondents, with instrument reliability confirmed through Cronbach's Alpha (α = 0.71). Drawing on findings related to material properties, waste availability, and design suitability, this paper proposes the Eco-Material Selection Framework for Fashion Design Curriculum (EMSF-FDC), a three-layered model developed from empirical survey data and case study evidence. The EMSF-FDC integrates material profiling, curriculum alignment, and design output evaluation as interdependent layers of eco-material learning. This study contributes by introducing a structured eco-material selection framework specifically tailored for Malaysian fashion design curriculum, addressing the lack of systematic material selection models in sustainable design education. The findings provide practical guidance for Malaysian higher education institutions seeking to integrate eco-material selection as a core curriculum competency in sustainable fashion programmes.