Why natural? International of natural fibers

Some 30 million tonnes of natural fibers are produced annually. Natural fibers form an important component of clothing, upholstery and other textiles. Many of them also have industrial applications – in packaging, papermaking and in composite materials with many uses, including as parts in automobiles. In many developing countries, proceeds from the sale and export of natural fibers contribute significantly to the income and the food security of poor farmers and those working in fiber processing and marketing. For some developing countries, natural fibers are of major economic importance: for example, cotton in some West African countries, jute in Bangladesh and sisal in Tanzania. In other cases, fibers are of less significance at the national level but are of major local importance, as in the case of jute in West Bengal (India) and sisal in north-east Brazil.