In October-November this year, pollution levels in Delhi-NCR reached alarming proportions with stubble burning by farmers in Punjab and Haryana being one of the prime reasons for the hazardous haze that hung around the region for weeks. The textiles industry has a solution, writes Subir Ghosh.
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The background
For one week the air pollution levels in Delhi and the NCR (National Capital Region) shot through the roof, forcing authorities to declare a public health emergency. Schools and colleges remained closed as Delhi-NCR choked under the dense fumes puffing in from neighbouring Punjab and Haryana. The capital region had its sources of pollution, but the stubble burning in the two Northern states came as the last straw.
The disaster of waste
Harvesting of various crops generates a large volume of residues both on and off the farm. The Union ministry of new and renewable energy in 2014 estimated that about 500 million tonnes (MT) of crop residues were generated annually. The problem was acknowledged at the policy level in November 2014 leading to the formulation of the National Policy for Management of Crop Residues (NPMCR).
On-farm burning of crop residues
According to NPMCR, “crop residues are primarily used as bedding material for animals, livestock feed, soil mulching, bio-gas generation, bio-manure / compost, thatching for rural homes, mushroom cultivation, biomass energy production, fuel for domestic and industrial use, etc. However, a large portion of crop residue is burnt ‘on-farm’ primarily to clean the field for sowing the next crop."
The missing 'textiles'
The NPMCR had chalked out a number of strategies and technological interventions, besides calling for pilot studies on management of crop residue. Surprisingly, the word “textiles” had figured nowhere in that document. Apparently, no one knew that the textiles industry can play a major role in both managing crop residue, as well as address its own fibre needs.
Waste to fibre
Scientists and researchers across the world have been looking into the prospects of agro-residues being used as alternative fibres by the textiles industry. But what was just theory at one point is now a step away from being a reality. Fortum, along with sustainable fibre company Spinnova, have gone beyond the proof of concept stage.
The first products
Fortum and Spinnova showcased the first clothing made from agricultural waste—wheat straw, in this case—at the Textile Exchange Sustainability Conference in Vancouver this October. The showpieces include a knitted t-shirt, as well as a jacket and skirt made of a woven fabric on organic cotton warp.
