Scientists in the Philippines have devised environment conscious sources to generate bamboo fibres that retain bamboo’s antimicrobial and UV-blocking properties. Currently, bamboo is transformed into textile material through cellulose renewal, which does not preserve the properties of bamboo textile fibres.
The technology for producing greener bamboo textile goods was developed by the Philippine Textile Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) (DOST-PTRI). Bamboo textiles are becoming increasingly popular as a sustainable and eco – friendly textile design and production choice. The DOST-PTRI Bamboo fibre extraction method was developed in 2015, and an intellectual property application was filed with the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPhil). Mechanical, chemical, and microbiological procedures are employed to extract fibres from bamboo culms. Bamboo textile fibre is extracted and treated to generate high – quality cellulose textile fibres.
Many bamboo species in the Philippines, including Kawayan Tinik (Bambusa blumeana), Bolo (Gigantochloa levis), Yellow Bamboo (Bambusa vulgaris), and Giant Bamboo, are used in the process to produce strong and fine bamboo fibres (Dendrocalamus asper). Mild and ecologically friendly technique, along with simplicity of collection and preparation, making it perfect for textile fibre processing in far-flung bamboo-rich areas, resulting in economic gains for the bamboo textile sector.
In the more common commercial technique of turning bamboo into textile material, cellulose regeneration, bamboo culms are broken down into chips, dissolved, and extruded through spinnerets to generate fine staples or filaments. Although the inherent consistency of bamboo textile fibres is not maintained in this synthetic process, new fibre characteristics are added. The process is also associated with the production of hazardous and poisonous compounds. Other organic textile fibres, such as bamboo, have been included in the proposed revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act 9242, or the Act Prescribing the Use of Philippine Tropical Fabrics for Uniforms of Public Officials and Employees as Well as other Objectives, to help broaden the scope of textile fibre sources and encourage rural job creation. This market consists of 635,000 kg of treated bamboo fibre input material for spinning yarns that will barely meet 25% of the government assessment technique.
