Bamboo textile processing technology is being promoted by the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Textile Research Institute for the production of natural blended yarns and woven fabrics to maximize local bamboo as a vast natural resource.
DoST-PTRI said that through research and development efforts, bamboo is now the newest addition to the local natural textile fibers, joining pineapple, abaca, and banana, which are being converted into textile or fabric through the DoST’s textile processing technology.
Noting that bamboo has the highest textile fiber yield among other textile fibers like pineapple, banana, or abaca, more significant opportunities will be provided for income generation from upstream to downstream for the natural textile industry sector.
The DoST-PTRI technology has been optimized following mechano-chemical processes, and has noted significant increase in value of the bamboo pole at P5 per kilogram, to its transformation into bamboo textile fibers (BTF) in spinnable form to spun yarns at P910 per kilogram.
DoST-PTRI said that in a one hectare bamboo plantation, there will be over 4,589 kilograms of spinnable bamboo textile fibers that can be obtained and when it is transformed into yarns, an estimate of 12,500 kilograms of yarns composed of 75/25 blended ratio of cotton and bamboo textile fiber can be produced.
DoST-PTRI has identified eight provinces in the Philippines which have been proposed as potential Bamboo Textile Fiber Innovation Hubs (BTFIH) – Abra, Pangasinan, Isabela, Rizal, Quezon, Antique, Agusan provinces, and Bukidnon.
The agency said that these hubs will serve as the gateway towards sustainable bamboo textile production and manufacturing given the ample bamboo plantation in their area. It seeks to boost the local economy through the utilization and value-addition of bamboo for the farmers, cooperatives, and or local processors who may adapt the developed technology.