Innovations and Challenges in Bast Fibre Extraction for Sustainable Development

Bast fibres, derived from the inner bark of plants such as jute, flax, hemp, and kenaf, play a significant role in various industries, including textiles, composites, and bioplastics. The extraction of these fibres is a crucial step that affects their quality and sustainability. However, traditional extraction methods, such as water and dew retting, while cost-effective, pose environmental challenges and yield inconsistent fibre quality. More advanced methods, including enzymatic, biological, and mechanical extractions, offer promising alternatives but come with their own set of challenges, such as high costs and process control issues. This review examines the current methods for bast fibre extraction, focusing on their limitations and the potential for innovation. Future research should aim at developing cost-effective enzymatic and biological retting techniques, recycling chemical effluents to minimize pollution, and integrating mechanical and enzymatic methods to optimize fibre quality. By addressing these challenges, it is possible to create a more sustainable and efficient extraction process for bast fibres, thereby improving their applicability in environmentally conscious industries.