Natural fibre composites (NF composites) offer benefits to the society from different points of view. In this section the benefits are regarded from an Economic, an Ecological and a Technical point of view (E.E.T., see figure 6.1), for various parts of society.
By investing in NF composites, a government obtains a piece of state of the art technology. NF composites distinct themselves from other technologies due to their complete character. Often only the manufacturing aspect of a technology is transferred to utilise the low labour costs. Just enough knowledge is given to manufacture products for the western world. NF composites connect to the traditional local fibre industries and find direct application in rural societies. Due to these two facts the entire product development cycle can be implemented, including material supply, product development and -manufacturing. Due to this complete character and a domestic market, a larger money flow and more employment is created than with another imported technology. In addition, money and jobs are immediately distributed over various layers of society.
Since the entire product development cycle is in domestic hands, international relations can be easier established in terms of export contracts, co-operative research contracts or even educational contracts. Due to the complex technological character of NF composites, it is very hard for neighbouring countries to copy the technology without co-operation. Having an exclusive technology at its disposal, a country strengthens its regional position.
Besides these short-term benefits also an important long-term benefit is obtained due to the sustainable character of NF composites. Due to the use of biological degradable materials, NF composites are relatively environmental friendly. In addition, the lightweight aspect reduces fuel consumption during transport, which brings both environmental as economical benefits.
Since the government represents the entire society, advantages mentioned hereafter benefiting specific parts of society also benefit the government.
Universities, laboratories and research institutes take in high tech knowledge, which can be domestically utilised. Output consisting of research results and trained students can directly be applied in society. Due to this social relevance governmental support can be expected. The fact that the knowledge is focussed on the particular situation of the domestic fibre industry results in the fact that trained students will always remain linked to their home country, preventing a "brain-drain" to the western world.
Composites are a hot item on international scale. Obtaining the technology brings international recognition and opens the door to international projects as co-operative research and exchange of students, Ph.D. candidates and experts. These projects raise the level of expertise and output for all parties involved.
Due to the coupling with the traditional fibre industry, the rural society will benefit the most of the NF composites. Since the fibres are involved from the start in the development of products, benefits for rural society start immediately. Since material production (agriculture) and product manufacturing (rural industry) both take place within this society, not only the demand for their natural fibres raises, but also significant value is added. No matter what the size of the NF composite industry will grow to, the natural fibres will always form the irreplaceable foundation. Another advantage is that due to the high level of traditional knowledge, the NF composite industry is open for every member of the rural society and is therefore an important creator of jobs for both Small Scale and Cottage Enterprises (SSCE) and Medium and Large Scale Enterprises (MLSE). More information regarding these enterprises is given in section 3.3. Since the initial aim is to manufacture for local markets with local materials, within rural industry SSCE will benefit the most.
In addition to economical benefits, NF composites also have consequences involving improvement of working conditions. In most FAO Member countries conditions in workshops are appalling. In many cases there is no ventilation on the work-floor, little protective clothing and masks, inferior equipment, no special storage of chemicals and waste material, low wages, long working hours, etc. Often work is performed by women and children. This is of course a general issue in many third world countries and it is something that is difficult to solve without financial support from outside. It is clear that many things in health and safety of employees can be improved through education and investment but this is costly to implement, and employers shall only make changes if somebody else pays for it or are forced to do so by government measures. Although NF composites don't solve these problems, they somewhat reduce them. Manufacturing composites of natural fibres involves "friendly" materials and processes. Processes are mainly mechanical and contact with toxic chemicals is little. Moreover, manufactured products are relatively light, reducing the physical aspect of the labour.
| Region | Tonnes | Percentage |
| Far East | 770.000 | 41.6 |
| Russia and Kazakhstan | 470.000 | 25.4 |
| Middle East and India subcontinent | 212.000 | 11.5 |
| Central and South America | 205.000 | 11.1 |
| Africa | 72.000 | 3.9 |
| Europe | 60.000 | 3.2 |
| North America | 60.000 | 3.2 |
| Total | 1.849.000 | 100 |
| Source: The Asbestos Institute table 6.1: World asbestos consumption in 1999 | ||
In general, NF composites can replace asbestos in constructions, a material well known for causing cancer. World production of asbestos amounts to approximately 1.8 million tons per year. The major producing countries are Canada, the former Soviet Union, South Africa, and Brazil. As asbestos consumption in industrialised countries decreased, asbestos exports to the third world increased, see table 6.1. Experts are afraid that many workers and residents might be killed by asbestos.
Entrepreneurs of SSCE and MLSE are offered the opportunity to exploit NF composite products. The short trajectory from raw materials to the market in combination with the relatively easy to perform manufacturing techniques result in low investment costs, whereas the products are already applicable at locale markets. Since the market for NF composites is yet to be discovered, new companies can already capture a prominent position. Although often copyright protection is absent, the freshly obtained position is guarded by the complexity of starting up a manufacturing line. Besides supplying the locale market, export is a future option.
NF composites are not only interesting for domestic SMEs but also for foreign ones. Through international co-operation between foreign companies and companies at the source of natural fibres and applications, the market can expand opening doors for new-to-develop applications.
Being largely represented in the Small Scale and Cottage Enterprises as both manufacturers and company-managers, women will benefit directly from the economical possibilities of NF composites. With the upgrading of indigenous technology and the exploitation of successful enterprises, women will both increase their ability to generate income and will finally receive the recognition they lack in most developing countries. Although this attention will mainly be focussed on female entrepreneurs in the fibre industry, women involved in other rural activities will also find new attention. Generally the position of women in these countries will improve.
NF composites can play an important role is preserving the indigenous forests. The forests of most FAO Member countries are rapidly being cut down for timber, see figure 5.2 and figure 6.3. Although extensive reforestation programmes are initiated, the balance existing in century old eco-systems remains disturbed, threatening the environment and the conservation of the biodiversity of plants and wildlife.
NF composites form an important substitute for timber-wood, reducing the need to cut down trees. Compressed NF composite panels and extruded profiles can substitute wooden board and beams as construction elements, but also single step manufactured constructions can replace their wooden counterpart.
Although indeed forest has to be felled to make room for plantations, it has to be kept in mind that they provide a harvest multiple times per year whereas indigenous forests can only be cut down once. Moreover, before new plantations are planted, attention has to be given to raise the yield of existing plantations, hence saving the forests.
Another environmental issue is the output of the NF composite industry in the form of sustainable products. A sustainable product fulfils the need of a current generation without compromising future generations to fulfil their needs [Brundtland, 1987]. In concrete terms, a more sustainable design uses up less materials and/or energy during manufacturing, use and disposal, leaving more options over for future choices. Therefore, sustainability takes in account the entire product trajectory. The use of natural materials and mainly mechanical processes raises sustainability in the manufacturing stage and during disposal. The lightweight character of the products reduces fuel consumption during transport.
Preservation of the variety of resources increases due to the improvement of the position of women, which can be explained as follows. Traditionally, women are engaged in the production of food for the family, as part of the household activities. Throughout history, they developed and improved their knowledge regarding the choice of seeds and the growth of crops. Since the main purpose of this type of food production is survival of the family, women learned to increase the variety in crops to account for fluctuating natural circumstances. Growing different crops with a large variety of properties means that in case of extreme drought at least one crop will survive to nourish the family, whereas in case of extreme rainfall another crop will provide food. By increasing the chances of survival of their family, women simultaneously contributed to the preservation of floral biodiversity. This biodiversity is threatened by decisions made by men, who traditionally tend to a more economic approach of agriculture. To increase income it is usually more profitable to reduce crop variety. Since in most developing countries men dominate society, crop variety gradually reduces. By improving the situation of women, their influence on deciding which crops to grow increases, hence the biodiversity will remain.
