KENAF

World’s Advanced Sustainable Material

Kenaf fibre comes from Hibiscus cannabinus plant. It is strongly recognised in high performance applications for its outstanding mechanical properties ie flexural and tensile strength.

Kenaf plant grows extremely quick with an ability to absorb huge quantities of CO2 - the global warming gas - comparatively 3 times more than a tree. Interestingly, it can also improves soil structure while fixing soil nutrients. Kenaf fibre is biodegradable, as no chemicals or pesticides are used during its cultivation.

Important facts on kenaf fibre

  • Basic Info

    🌱 The stalk consist of two kinds of fibre
    🌱 Outer fibre known as bast - comparable to softwood tree fibres
    🌱 Inner fibre known as core - comparable to hardwood fibres
    🌱 Antimicrobial properties - good resistance to mildew and rot
    🌱 Fire-retardant abilities
    🌱 Well adapted to a wide range of soil types

  • Long Kenaf FIbre

    Physical Properties

    🌱 High tensile strength (400-800 Mpa)
    🌱 Lightweight (0.6 g/cm3)
    🌱 Most absorbent natural fibre on the planet
    🌱 Soft handle
    🌱 Lustrous and long staple fibre
    🌱 Very fine and strong yarn can be spun
    🌱 Aesthetically pleasing - looks like Linen

  • Kenaf Cultivation

    Cultivation

    🌱 Maximum height of 20 feet
    🌱 Average height of 8-14 feet
    🌱 Can be harvested in just 100-120 days
    🌱 Produce 10-15 tons of dry stem per hectare

  • Fibre Process

    🌱 Fibre is separated from core by retting method
    🌱 Fibre with extended water immersion exhibited higher lightness and smoother
    🌱 Fibre and core can also be separated by mechanical process

  • Sustainability

    🌱 Most sustainable fibre
    🌱 High growth rate
    🌱 High ability to replenish
    🌱 Does not require much water during cultivation and processing
    🌱 Biodegradable - almost no fertiliser or pesticides during cultivation
    🌱 Absorbing 3-5 times higher CO2 than any other trees

  • Kenaf plant converts more CO2 than a tropical rain forest during its growth

Sustainable Supply of Kenaf in Malaysia

The plantation area of kenaf in Peninsular Malaysia is around 3,000 hectare with production volume of 37,253 tonnes from 2016 - 2020. Due to strong government support in Malaysia, industry value of kenaf is expected to achieve RM747 million by year 2030 with estimated plantation area of 10,000 hectare.

With the increment of hectarage and production volume of kenaf, raw material supply of kenaf is expected to easily cater the demand of kenaf-based products and is therefore, sustainable.

“ Kenaf has becoming Malaysia’s third industrial crop after palm oil and rubber, after being introduced as the new local natural fibre in advanced composite ”

National Advanced Material Technology Roadmap 2021-2030

More industries are shifting to manufacture their products through sustainable material

Mechanical performance of kenaf-based product is improves by converting kenaf fibre into technical textile preform. This also eases kenaf fibre handling and can easily be adopted into existing composite manufacturing.

We believe in continuously innovating our technology and technical know-how to improve kenaf properties and widen its application in multi-industrial sectors ie automotive, fashion, construction, geotextile, marine, furniture, filtration, and aviation.

Goodbye Synthetic Fibres!

Poised as an alternative to synthetic fibres, kenaf is a very important raw material in manufacturing industry and regarded as biodegradable and high quality fibre.

It offers sustainable advantage without compromising on performance - the solving issue on non-biodegradable mineral-based and petroleum-based material.

Advanced

Green Composites

Kenaf is well-positioned to drive the increasing market demand for natural fibre use in biocomposite materials. Based on natural fibres and polymers, biocomposites are experiencing comprehensive growth with favourable prospects across various vertical industries.

It is definitely gaining attention due to low cost, reduced environmental impact, and attractive mechanical properties. Even Malaysian government set the policy direction for plant-based fibres development as a key agri-commodity industry in Malaysia through National Agri-Commodity Policy (DAKN) 2021-2030 by further developing the midstream and downstream segments of Kenaf and other plant-based fibres.

As biocomposite market is still consider green field in Malaysia, Green Advantex is leveraging on this opportunity to be pioneer player in positioning kenaf as Natural Fibre Reinforced Composites (NFRCs) for global landscape!

Let’s Work Together

We believe in sustainability. This starts with choosing a better material for the better future.

Get in touch and our team of experts will contact you to begin proposal process.