TDB & Sahi Fab sign agreement to recycle hemp waste into textile

As part of the Waste to Wealth project, the Technological Development Board (TDB) and Sahi Fab signed a contract for the development and commercialization of “Agricultural waste of stem materials including industrial hemp, flax, and nettle, etc. into Fibre.” The board has agreed to contribute Rs. 1.38 crore toward the project’s budget of Rs. 2.08 crore.

Industrial hemp is derived from Cannabis Sativa strains that contain less than 0.3% Tetra hydro cannabinol (THC) (iHemp). The tiny brown seeds in iHemp are a nutrient-rich food that is high in protein, fiber, and healthy fats like omega-3s and omega-6s that help to enhance the health of the heart, skin, and joints as well as lessen the symptoms of a number of illnesses.

The stem requires less energy, emits less carbon dioxide during growth, and uses less water than cotton while having better carbon sequestration than polyester fiber and cotton. Although being one of the strongest and most durable natural textile fibers and a good source of environmentally friendly, sustainable fiber, it was underutilized due to a lack of technology.

With the aim of making money from the underutilized garbage, the company has consequently developed a revolutionary solution by producing fiber and fibrous things out of this rubbish through three procedures.

The Decorticator, an indigenously made equipment, is used to first prepare the hemp stem. Then, alkali or enzymes are applied to the extracted fiber using high-temperature, high-pressure (HTHP) machinery. The treated fiber is then carded and processed in various ways, including needle punching (non-woven).

The fibre that is extracted from the stem, according to a formal release, would not only promote the circular economy but also boost farmers’ income by nearly seven times.

Rajesh Kumar Pathak, Secretary, TDB said that TDB had been a leader in assisting creative indigenous technology, aimed at enhancing the ease of living for the ordinary man. Many start-ups are foraying into uncharted territory, thus, they need financial support to succeed in their endeavors. One such startup, M/s Sahi Fab, is creating fiber from agricultural waste that went unused owing to a lack of technology.