Surat: In the sands of time the world is consciously trying to leave at least one less carbon footprint, the textile hub of Surat, which is known for its polyester products, is also trying to weave a green thinking by adopting it. Natural Fiber – a biodegradable yarn that is environmentally friendly.
After introducing plant-based cupro fiber and viscose rayon, the city is now experimenting with fibers and yarns derived from pineapple, birch wood, banana and bamboo.
Some products are researched and developed locally, while some innovations made abroad are also trying to find their footing in the man-made fabric hub. At present about 80 percent of fabric products are polyester based, apart from fabrics like nylon, cotton, cuprammonium, viscose, linen and a few others.
Even as around 20 per cent of the units have made room for natural fibres, experts do not see any lull in the development of polyester anytime soon and natural fibers will cater only to specific sectors.
Among the local warriors for natural fibres, Navsari Agricultural University (NAU) is aggressively marketing its banana-plant fibre, which is derived from the pseudostem of plantain.
“The stem of the plant, weighing around 45 kg, was earlier considered useless and in fact it cost the farmer an additional Rs 15,000 per hectare to remove the eco-waste. But now, with the innovation of plant-based fibre, farmers can earn from that waste,” said JM Patel, head of the Soil and Water Management Research Unit, NAU.
However, this too has its limitations as only two per cent of the 45 kg stem can be obtained as fiber while the rest of the material is used in the manufacture of vermicompost and liquid fertiliser.
“Some of these natural fibers and threads have been available for years now, but with very little commercial use. If its commercial production goes up, these can be made available at customer-friendly prices,” said Rajnikatna Bachhanwala, president of MANTRA, a textile research institute.
Mehr International – a private group in the city – is making fiber and yarn from pineapple and banana waste. “We are using pineapple leaves to make the fiber and then after a long process the yarn can be obtained. Farmers usually throw these away as waste, but with technology now they can earn from it,” said Sumit Agarwal, director of the firm, who is also working on developing fiber and yarn from bamboo.
“The yarn sourced from bamboo is currently imported and we will soon come up with locally made products,” he added.
After introducing plant-based cupro fiber and viscose rayon, the city is now experimenting with fibers and yarns derived from pineapple, birch wood, banana and bamboo.
Some products are researched and developed locally, while some innovations made abroad are also trying to find their footing in the man-made fabric hub. At present about 80 percent of fabric products are polyester based, apart from fabrics like nylon, cotton, cuprammonium, viscose, linen and a few others.
Even as around 20 per cent of the units have made room for natural fibres, experts do not see any lull in the development of polyester anytime soon and natural fibers will cater only to specific sectors.
Among the local warriors for natural fibres, Navsari Agricultural University (NAU) is aggressively marketing its banana-plant fibre, which is derived from the pseudostem of plantain.
“The stem of the plant, weighing around 45 kg, was earlier considered useless and in fact it cost the farmer an additional Rs 15,000 per hectare to remove the eco-waste. But now, with the innovation of plant-based fibre, farmers can earn from that waste,” said JM Patel, head of the Soil and Water Management Research Unit, NAU.
However, this too has its limitations as only two per cent of the 45 kg stem can be obtained as fiber while the rest of the material is used in the manufacture of vermicompost and liquid fertiliser.
“Some of these natural fibers and threads have been available for years now, but with very little commercial use. If its commercial production goes up, these can be made available at customer-friendly prices,” said Rajnikatna Bachhanwala, president of MANTRA, a textile research institute.
Mehr International – a private group in the city – is making fiber and yarn from pineapple and banana waste. “We are using pineapple leaves to make the fiber and then after a long process the yarn can be obtained. Farmers usually throw these away as waste, but with technology now they can earn from it,” said Sumit Agarwal, director of the firm, who is also working on developing fiber and yarn from bamboo.
“The yarn sourced from bamboo is currently imported and we will soon come up with locally made products,” he added.
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