Kenaf
Also known as: Hibiscus cannabinus, Deccan hemp, Bimli jute
Fast-growing bast fibre from the African hibiscus Hibiscus cannabinus — jute-like, CO₂-efficient, for coarse textiles and composites.
Description
Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus) is an annual mallow cultivated for more than 4,000 years in Africa, South and Southeast Asia. The plant reaches 3–4 metres in just 4–5 months, sequestering an above-average amount of CO₂ — up to 20 tonnes per hectare per year.
The bark yields a jute-like long bast fibre (staple length 2–6 mm) while the inner stem provides a shorter woody fibre. Kenaf increasingly replaces jute in sacks, geotextiles and coarse fabrics. Toyota and Ford use kenaf nonwovens in door panels; further uses include floor mats, bio-composite boards and pulp for acid-free paper. In textiles kenaf is mostly blended with cotton or used as a coarse sacking fabric.
- Grows to 3–4 m in only 4–5 months
- Very high CO₂ sequestration — up to 20 t/ha
- Substitute for jute in sacks, geotextiles, bio-composites
- Automotive interiors (Toyota, Ford)
Properties
| Fibre type | Natural fibre (plant-based, bast fibre) |
|---|---|
| Origin | India, China, Bangladesh, USA |
| Growth | 3–4 m in 4–5 months, up to 20 t CO₂/ha |
| Application | Sacks, geotextiles, bio-composites, paper, car interiors |
Related product categories
Sources & references
1- Wikipedia: Kenaf Wikipedia — Freie Enzyklopädie https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenaf
