Coconut tree is a typical tree in the tropical coastal regions in Asia, Oceania, Africa and South America. Farmers only harvested coconuts for coconut milk and coconut oil production. At the same time, the husks and fibers are wasted. Many scientist have searched for innovative method to convert the fibrous husks into usable and sustainable material. Some of successful products that currently in used are coir geo-textiles and ecocoboard.
Coir Geotextiles
Geotextiles is materials used for improving the soil behavior, preventing soil erosion and help consolidation of the soil. Coir geotextile is an organic geotextile made from the coconut fibre which found between the hard, internal shell and the outer coat of a coconut. The net of the fibre helps to slow down the water flow, absorbing water and flourish the plant.
Advantages:
Coir Geotextiles
Geotextiles is materials used for improving the soil behavior, preventing soil erosion and help consolidation of the soil. Coir geotextile is an organic geotextile made from the coconut fibre which found between the hard, internal shell and the outer coat of a coconut. The net of the fibre helps to slow down the water flow, absorbing water and flourish the plant.
Advantages:
- Can last for for 3 - 5 years. After using, the product can biodegrades to humus and improve the soil quality. no environmental impact concern,
- Natural resistant to rot, moulds and moisture, no need to chemical treatment
- Can absorb the water and the excess solar radiation
- Promote growing of plant
Ecocoboard
Ecocoboard is a high quality building board material which is made by husk from coconut and developed by Wageningen UR Food & Biobased Research in Philipines. An innovative method has been used in the production to make sure no chemical adhesives added. Ecocoboard can be used for building and furniture applications.
The production of the ecocoboard is quite simple: the husk is separated into small pieces and press under hot pressure into board. Ecocoboard is proved that can comparable or better than medium density fibreboard (MDF).
Ecocoboard is a high quality building board material which is made by husk from coconut and developed by Wageningen UR Food & Biobased Research in Philipines. An innovative method has been used in the production to make sure no chemical adhesives added. Ecocoboard can be used for building and furniture applications.
The production of the ecocoboard is quite simple: the husk is separated into small pieces and press under hot pressure into board. Ecocoboard is proved that can comparable or better than medium density fibreboard (MDF).
The advantages of cocoboard:
- Glue and chemical are not added during the progress. As a result, the product price is competitive with the other materials.
- The product is sustainable and environmentally friendly. It can last for several years, and bio-degradable
- Can help prevent deforestation in developing countries due to as an alternative to wood material.
Conclusion:
These products are two of numerous applications of waste from coconut milk and oil production. Instead of burning them and create more carbon emission, farmers now can produce them to usable products. Therefore, it is not too much to said that coconut can be a solution for sustainable and economical material in the future.
References:
coir geotextile
<http://www.coirlanka.com/coir-geotextiles.html>
<http://www.centralcoir.com/coirgeo.php>
Jeg van Dam , 'Ecocoboard - a new material made from coconut husks'
<http://www.wageningenur.nl/en/show/Ecocoboard-a-new-material-made-from-coconut-husks.htm
These products are two of numerous applications of waste from coconut milk and oil production. Instead of burning them and create more carbon emission, farmers now can produce them to usable products. Therefore, it is not too much to said that coconut can be a solution for sustainable and economical material in the future.
References:
coir geotextile
<http://www.coirlanka.com/coir-geotextiles.html>
<http://www.centralcoir.com/coirgeo.php>
Jeg van Dam , 'Ecocoboard - a new material made from coconut husks'
<http://www.wageningenur.nl/en/show/Ecocoboard-a-new-material-made-from-coconut-husks.htm