Researchers from the Department of Science and Technology- Philippine Textile Research Institute (DOST-PTRI) have developed sustainable natural textile materials from bamboo.
The DOST-PTRI said the production of greener bamboo textile materials was made possible through the Institute’s development of sustainable technologies, including the Bamboo fiber extraction technology.
It noted that the technology which was first developed in 2015 has already applied for intellectual property protection with the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPhil).
“The technology, applied to natural extraction of different Bamboo species in the Philippines such as Kawayan Tinik (Bambusa blumeana), Bolo (Gigantochloa levis), YellowBamboo (Bambusa vulgaris), and Giant Bamboo (Dendrocalamus asper), produces strong and fine Bamboo fibers,” the Institute said in a statement.
It explained that technology includes the mechanical, chemical, and biological processes to liberate the fibers from the bamboo culm.
“The extracted bamboo textile fiber is treated to obtain highly cellulosic textile fibers while preserving the inherent properties of bamboo such as antimicrobial and UV-blocking properties,” it added.
The PTRI said the mild and eco-friendly technology with its simple extraction and treatment technique makes it highly suitable for textile fiber processing in remote bamboo-rich local areas and results in economic gains for the country’s bamboo textile industry.
According to the Institute, a more popular commercial process of converting bamboo into textile material is through cellulose regeneration.
"In this process, bamboo culms are broken down into chips, dissolved,and extruded through spinnerets to produce fine staples or filaments. In this synthetic technique,new fiber properties are introduced while the natural integrity of the bamboo textile fibers is not conserved,” it said.
“Also, the toxic and hazardous substances involved in the production of regenerated Bamboo viscose fibers implicate the environmental downside of the process.”
The PTRI said it has moved sustainable and improved fiber extraction techniques for the bamboo species in a bid to promote the increased utilization of natural textile fiber processing from bamboo.
It said the bamboo species currently under study are Laak (Bambusa philippinensis), Anos (Schizostachyum lima(Blanco) merr.), and Puser (Cyrtocholoa puser s. dransf.).
“The greener and milder conditions in the transformation of bamboo culms into natural textile materials promote an ecological and community-centered approach. This puts the initiative squarely on Bamboo farmers, farm owners, and textile fiber producers and ensures that the socio-economic and environmental benefits of the bamboo textile fiber technology redound to the direct benefit of the many bamboo-rich rural communities.”
The inclusion of other natural textile fibers which include bamboo was part of the proposed revised Implementing Rules and Regulation (IRR) of Republic Act No. 9242, also known as the Philippine Tropical Fabrics Law.
It is aimed at widening the scope of textile fiber sources and promoting employment generation in the countryside.
RA 9242 prescribes the use of the Philippine tropical fabrics for uniforms of public officials and employees.
“This market represents 635,000 kg of treated bamboo fiber input material for the production of spun yarns that will meet just 25 percent of the requirements for government uniforms. This represents a huge potential and market opportunity for bamboo producers in the country.”