Affiliations 

  • 1 Research Center for Biomaterials, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Jl Raya Bogor KM 46, Cibinong 16911, Indonesia
  • 2 Forest Products Research and Development Center, Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Bogor 16610, Indonesia
  • 3 Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Science, University of Padjajaran, Jatinangor 45363, Indonesia
  • 4 Indonesian Sweetener and Fiber Crops Research Institute (ISFCRI), Ministry of Agriculture, Malang 65152, Indonesia
  • 5 Department of Forest Product, Faculty of Forestry, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan 20155, Indonesia
  • 6 Solar Energy Research Institute, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi 43600, Malaysia
  • 7 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kampus Tegalboto, University of Jember, Jember 68121, Indonesia
  • 8 Indonesia Natural Fiber Council (DSI), Gedung Smesco/SME Tower Lt. G (APINDO UMKM Hub), Jl Gatot Subroto Kav. 94 Pancoran, Jakarta Selatan 12780, Indonesia
  • 9 Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Mataram, Mataram 001016, Indonesia
  • 10 The Graduate School, Kasetsart University, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10903, Thailand
  • 11 Department of Forest Products, Faculty of Forestry and Environment, IPB University, Bogor 16680, Indonesia
  • 12 Natural Composites Research Group Lab, Department of Materials and Production Engineering, The Sirindhorn International Thai-German Graduate School of Engineering (TGGS), King Mongkut's University of Technology North Bangkok, Bangkok 10800, Thailand
Polymers (Basel), 2021 Dec 07;13(24).
PMID: 34960839 DOI: 10.3390/polym13244280

Abstract

Asian countries have abundant resources of natural fibers, but unfortunately, they have not been optimally utilized. The facts showed that from 2014 to 2020, there was a shortfall in meeting national demand of over USD 2.75 million per year. Therefore, in order to develop the utilization and improve the economic potential as well as the sustainability of natural fibers, a comprehensive review is required. The study aimed to demonstrate the availability, technological processing, and socio-economical aspects of natural fibers. Although many studies have been conducted on this material, it is necessary to revisit their potential from those perspectives to maximize their use. The renewability and biodegradability of natural fiber are part of the fascinating properties that lead to their prospective use in automotive, aerospace industries, structural and building constructions, bio packaging, textiles, biomedical applications, and military vehicles. To increase the range of applications, relevant technologies in conjunction with social approaches are very important. Hence, in the future, the utilization can be expanded in many fields by considering the basic characteristics and appropriate technologies of the natural fibers. Selecting the most prospective natural fiber for creating national products can be assisted by providing an integrated management system from a digitalized information on potential and related technological approaches. To make it happens, collaborations between stakeholders from the national R&D agency, the government as policy maker, and academic institutions to develop national bioproducts based on domestic innovation in order to move the circular economy forward are essential.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.