Fiber in Bales

It is primarily determined by the stage at which the coconut husks are processed.

the process typically works:

Harvesting coconuts: Coconuts are harvested from coconut palms when they are mature.

Removing the husk: The outermost layer of the coconut is the husk, which is a rough, fibrous material. To extract the coir fiber, the husk needs to be separated from the coconut.

Retting: The husks are then soaked in water for several months to facilitate the natural process of microbial decomposition. This step is known as retting and helps to separate the fibers from the rest of the husk.

Separation of fibers: After the retting process, the coir fibers are separated from the decomposed husks either by hand or by using mechanical devices.

Cleaning: The extracted fibers are then washed and cleaned to remove any impurities or residues.

Drying: The cleaned fibers are dried in the sun to reduce their moisture content.

Now, the color of the coir fiber is determined by whether it goes through a process called “bleaching” or not:

• Brown coir fiber: If the fibers are left as is after the drying process, they retain their natural brown color. This type of coir fiber is often used in products like mats, rugs, and ropes.

• White coir fiber: If the fibers are subjected to a bleaching process, they become white in color. This white coir fiber is used in applications where a lighter color is preferred, such as in making finer textiles or for horticultural purposes like in potting mixes.