Industrial Applications of Renewable Plastics

6.3. Natural Fibers for Renewable Reinforcements

After a long period of disinterest, the composite industry shows a renewed interest for NFs because of environmental, social, and economic trends.

6.3.1. Natural Fiber Overview

NFs present numerous advantages:

• Fossil energy savings resulting from biomass use instead of crude oil.

• The low energy consumption for their production.

• The renewable origin.

• The lower industrial means, investments, and technical knowledge.

• The biodegradability except some cases.

• The possibility to add value to wastes of other industrial sectors by recovering their fiber contents.

There are also some drawbacks such as, for example,

Table 6.18

Property Examples of APIGO Bio

Example	A	B	C	D	E
Biocontent, %	20	23	25	51	67
Hardness, Shore ...