Life Cycle Assessment of Manila Hemp in Catanduanes, Philippines

Abstract

Environmental burdens of one ton baled abaca fiber, which is exported as Manila hemp, were determined using life cycle assessment with three phases: plantation establishment and fiber harvesting, fiber trading, and grading and baling of fiber. Abaca fiber was organically produced in Catanduanes. One hectare abaca plantation produced an average of 830 kg fiber with a total mean discarded biomass of 5.7 t. A barangay trader can purchased 712 kg of dry fiber per week while Grading and Baling Establishment (GBE) procured and processed 250 t mo-1. One ton of baled fiber required 1.6 ha plantation with 2,132 undamaged abaca hills that produced 1,052.6 kg dry abaca fiber. Harvesting produced about 80.2 t of discarded materials and weeds which used as mulch, however, estimated soil nutrient loss was 0.5 kg N and 0.1 kg P and 5.4 kg K. Trading and baling produced 52.6 kg fiber by-product used for furniture making; more than 5 kg of fiber dust and a total global warming potential of 47.7 kg CO2 equivalent. The following are recommended to improve farm productivity: a) use of organic fertilizer to replace the nutrient loss; b) improve stripping device to enhance fiber quality; and c) utilize farm waste for soil conservation. Local policy on abaca trading was recommended to increase farmer’s share. GBE must provide mechanism to improve environmental work condition and strictly enforce the use of ear plug to avoid hearing loss of workers.

The application of Life Cycle Assessment in sustainable furniture system design

“…Wood is commonly classified as a sustainable material, and it is assumed that increasing wood use for furniture could lead to reductions in environmental impacts (via carbon storage, material and fuel substitution) (Kayo et al, 2019). However, some authors argue that real sustainability depends on appropriate forest management like fertilizers use (Cambria and Pierangeli, 2012;Cortez et al, 2015), manufacturing methods and site assembly, transportation distance and glues use (Asdrubali et al, 2017).…”

Abaca fiber as an efficient reinforcement for high mechanical performance in metakaolin‐based geopolymers

“…Abaca is an organic, sustainable, and renewable resource that can be cultivated without extensive use of pesticides or fertilizers. 36 The crop possesses a relatively short cultivation cycle, allowing for periodic harvests and sustainable production. 37 Importantly, pretreated abaca sources obtained from the Philippines are readily accessible within the United States, in the form of standardized, low-cost paper sheets.…”

“…An underexplored fiber type in the geopolymer field is manila hemp, also known as abaca. Abaca is an organic, sustainable, and renewable resource that can be cultivated without extensive use of pesticides or fertilizers 36 . The crop possesses a relatively short cultivation cycle, allowing for periodic harvests and sustainable production 37 .…”