CropLife International A.I.S.B.L.
Avenue Louise 326, box 35 - B-1050 - Brussels – Belgium
TEL +32 2 542 04 10 FAX +32 2 542 04 19 www.croplife.org
Brussels, 21 January 2009
PRESS RELEASE
CropLife International welcomes International Year of
Natural Fibres 2009
New uses for renewable, plant-based fibres through innovation in plant
science
Brussels - January 21, 2009 — On the occasion of the launch of the International
Year of Natural Fibres, CropLife International recognises the importance of natural
fibres in providing a sustainable, renewable alternative to synthetic fibres, as well as
the contribution of agriculture and plant science in the production of natural fibres.
While natural fibres, such as cotton, have lost a significant market share to synthetic
fibres in the past half-century, new innovations from the plant science industry are
generating a variety of new uses for plant-based fibres, ranging from car parts to
insulation material for buildings. These bio-based materials offer notable
environmental and economic benefits.
Some examples of innovative new uses for plant fibres include:
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Car parts, such as door panels made of flax or sisal plant fibres, carpeting
made from corn and injection mouldings in other parts manufactured from
hemp and flax. The low density of plant-fibre materials can reduce vehicle
weight – door parts made of natural fibre are up to 20% lighter, for example.
This reduced vehicle weight diminishes fuel consumption.
Traditional glass fibres are being replaced by plant fibres in insulation for
buildings.
Bamboo and soy are now used to make fabric for clothing.
Biodegradable plastics have been, and continue to be, developed from crops.
Bioplastics are already available for commercial use in clothing fabrics and
carpets, as well as parts for cars. Renewable plastics offer significant
environmental and economic advantages in the future over their traditional
counterparts, largely thanks to their biodegradability and low density.
The creation of polymers from corn sugar instead of petroleum-based
feedstocks has notable environmental benefits: the process consumes 40%
less energy and reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 20%. Such polymers
can be used in car interiors, carpets and packaging materials, for example.
“Industrial bio-products are less persistent and less toxic, reduce greenhouse gas
emissions and increase use of renewable resources. Furthermore, they allow
Meeting the Challenges of a Growing World
maximum use of all plant parts,” notes Howard Minigh, CEO of CropLife
International. “Growth of a bio-based economy is the environmentally-sound,
socially-responsible way to support a global population,” he adds.
The plant science industry continues to invest heavily in its R&D efforts, ensuring
that pioneering new solutions continue to be developed that enable agriculture to
grow more than just food, in a manner that is both sustainable and renewable and
allows us to meet the demands of our growing population, as well as climate change
and the associated environmental imperatives.
The International Year of Natural Fibres aims to raise awareness of natural fibres and
their benefits, as well as the significance of the production of natural fibres to the
livelihoods of many farmers, particularly in parts of Sub-Saharan Africa and South
Asia.
CropLife International welcomes the International Year of Natural Fibres and
supports the worthy goal of raising awareness of natural fibres and the
environmental and economic benefits that such fibres can bring.
For further information, please contact:
Anna Riley,
Communications Officer,
CropLife International,
Avenue Louise 326, Box 35,
Brussels B-1050
Belgium
Tel: +32 (0)475 489229
Fax: +32 (0)2 542 0419
E-mail: anna.riley@croplife.org
www.croplife.org
Note to Editors:
CropLife International is the global federation representing the plant science industry. It supports a network of
regional and national associations in 91 countries, and is led by companies such as BASF, Bayer CropScience,
Dow AgroSciences, DuPont, FMC, Monsanto, Sumitomo and Syngenta. CropLife International promotes the
benefits of crop protection and biotechnology products, their importance to sustainable agriculture and food
production, and their responsible use through stewardship activities.