Sisal is a renewable resource par excellence and can form part of the overall solution to climate change. Measured over its life-cycle, sisal absorbs more carbon dioxide than it produces. During processing, it generates mainly organic wastes and leaf residues that can be used to generate bioenergy, produce animal feed, fertiliser and ecological housing materialand, at the end of its life cycle, sisal is 100 percent biodegradable. By contrast synthetically produced fibres do not possess any of these traits. Moreover sisal plants reduce soil erosion through its extensive root system and contributes positively to watershed management. Sisal plants used as hedges act as effective vegetative barriers/ fences to protect the crops lands and forests from predatory animals and intruders.
Uses of Sisal
Sisal has a wide variety of applications including:
Traditional - Twine, ropes, string, yarn and which can also be woven into carpets, mats, and various handicrafts.
Competition from synthetics has weakened demand for sisal in these traditional applications, however new consumer demands for natural fibres are expanding the markets for sisal in more high-value applications such as in paper, reinforcing composites and plastic composites.
Sisal pulp and paper – As sisal biomass contains a high proportion of cellulose its pulp is a substitute for wood fibres and adds bulk to paper and cardboard as well as being absorbent and having high fold endurance characteristics making it a high quality input for paper products. Given its porosity, it can be used in cigarette paper filters and things like tea bags.
Uses of Sisal
Sisal has a wide variety of applications including:
Traditional - Twine, ropes, string, yarn and which can also be woven into carpets, mats, and various handicrafts.
Competition from synthetics has weakened demand for sisal in these traditional applications, however new consumer demands for natural fibres are expanding the markets for sisal in more high-value applications such as in paper, reinforcing composites and plastic composites.
Sisal pulp and paper – As sisal biomass contains a high proportion of cellulose its pulp is a substitute for wood fibres and adds bulk to paper and cardboard as well as being absorbent and having high fold endurance characteristics making it a high quality input for paper products. Given its porosity, it can be used in cigarette paper filters and things like tea bags.
Comments
Post a Comment