Valorization of Agroindustrial Wastes: New Eco-Textiles from PineApple Leaves Fibres (PALF)

The general definition of sustainable economy is the ability of an economy to maintain defined levels of economic production indefinitely. This not only results in the aspect of economic sustainability of production processes but also in the environmental aspect. This theme is closely linked to the introduction of environmental friendly processes, to the study of new materials obtainable from renewable sources and to the exploitation and minimization of by-products and wastes from industrial production processes. To this purpose, is needed a greater integration of the production processes and research activity aimed at making those exploitable resources that are normally considered wastes, through chemical and physical transformation processes, identifying new uses and market destinations. Increasing attention is given to these issues now, especially in developing countries, where the industrial pressure is greater. This is the case of Thailand, where the agriculture and textile industry are working together to enhance and strengthen the resources obtainable from pineapple cultivation. In particular, this country is the world's fourth largest producer of this fruit with over 2.2 million tons/year; connected to this cultivation, recently, was born a new business resulting from the extraction of fibres from the leaves of the plant, to be employed in the textile sector. Through a new process in the course of development, the pineapple leaves, which up to a short time ago constituted a waste, they are now considered a resource to be used in order to obtain new textile materials and goods