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Interview with Wilson Andrade

Wilson Andrade
Wilson Andrade
CEO
Sindifibras
Sindifibras

Countries like Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, etc., are investing more every day to produce construction materials…
With Fibre2Fashion correspondent Cindrella Thawani, Wilson Andrade opines about the resilient features of Brazilian market towards natural fibres. Synopsis: The Natural Fibres Industry Union in the State of Bahia brings together companies in the areas of natural fibres, mainly sisal, piassava and coconut. Besides, offers support for relations between associates, contributors and government together with businessmen in the area. Currently, Wilson Andrade is the CEO of Sindifibras- Union of Vegetal Fiber Industries of Bahia. Moreover, he is the Chairman of INFO – International Natural Fibres Organization-Amsterdam; Chairman of Chamber of Natural Fibres at Agriculture Ministry in Brasil; Chairman of Intergovernamental Group on Natural Fibres of FAO- Rome-Italy. Excerpts:

What kind of challenges do you foresee with the future production of natural fibres?

We face various challenges and we need to find out more about the current market, its history and future prospects for each type of fibre and links to bio based economic development. May be the benefits of the use of natural fibres should get more attention than synthetics. • Improve productivity in the fields (kilogrammes -v- hectare), enhancing methods and production, using more productive varieties and combating diseases. • Structure a universal classification for each fibre and then make international certification systems viable which assure guarantees regarding technical specifications and social and environmental responsibility in the productive chain to present and future consumers. • Modernize industrial equipment and processes with the aim of improving quality and working conditions for the operators and reducing prices. • Use 100 percent of plants, with resultant objective of zero waste in our activities. This will increase producers’ incomes and benefit the environment. • Consolidate markets for new uses composites – where possible substituting glass fibre; fibre cement – substituting asbestos cement (amianthus) and geo-textiles – substituting synthetic products. • The government could consider the production of natural fibres an area of priority in transition to Green Economic Development and have programmes to encourage the use of renewable materials such as natural fibres. • Last, but not least, we need to promote our products and their technical, environmental and social advantages. This effort should be focused on possible consumers but especially on our own country, showing our authorities, our producers, our academics and new industries that our fibres can and should be used, providing technical, economical and environmental advantages.
 

How do you see the global market industry for natural fibres?

The future is promising. And the International Natural Fibres Organization (INFO) group has recently been working in cooperation with various institutions from producing and consuming countries, with the aim of establishing a long-term overview of our natural fibres, such as jute, sisal, coir, kenaf and abacá. In addition to possible market recovery with traditional products, we have an enormous range of possibilities for new uses in products with more technological content with the textile, natural fibre composites, fibre cement and geo-textile for use in civil engineering works.

Please explain your moves ahead towards your new projects in the upcoming period.

We will produce 30 tons of composites with different percentages of coir and sisal fibres with Apex-Brasil’s assistance. This material will be certified at universities and research centres in Europe and has been distributed, free of charge, to 60 European industries which already use composites with other natural fibres. All of the companies will be meeting in Vienna, Austria in February 2013, at a major composite seminar, to find out the results of the different tests and products made by each industry. The objective is to improve the production and commercialization process for this new commodity: natural fibre pellets with recyclable resins to substitute glass fibre around the world. We would like to invite Fibre2Fashion, to become our partners in this project and to accompany the development of this pioneering and original initiative. We are working on, studying, planning and developing actions, programmes and projects together with assistance from INFO, FAO, CFC and leaders from countries which produce natural fibres. This will make the full development of the above points possible (1-7), so that we will be more competitive and guarantee a market, employment and income for millions of people who depend on our natural fibres and our labour in a sustainable manner. Through their governments, leaders in production, commercialization, planning and research, the countries which produce natural fibres are united in these aims and, therefore, the results will be effective.

Where do you see the demand and development for sisal, coir and piassava worldwide?

We are always researching new markets. For instance, North Africa has been expanding its use of coir and sisal fibres to produce linings and dry walls. Countries like Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, etc., are investing more every day to produce construction materials, which are strong, light and more economical. Asian markets are also growing fast and have large potential.

How do you see the Brazilian consumer market demand for natural fibres?

The Brazilian market has a very elastic potential. There are almost 200 million people and a large percentage growth is in a phase of income. We are a young nation which is rapidly learning to use natural, renewable and biodegradable products. Homemakers are not satisfied with using synthetic string to tie their trees and flowers. They want sustainable products which do not harm the environment.

Which regions will receive Brazilian natural fibre exports, globally?

There are traditional markets for agricultural twine for tying hay and other crops, cords, packaging string, mats, covers, etc. There is still a large market for agricultural twines in the United States and Canada and they can also recover space within Europe. Fortunately, our markets are diversified: for example mattress covers are sold to our South American neighbours and also to Asia, Africa and other countries.

You have been associated with a site called ApexBrasil. How is this helpful to SINDIFIBRAS?

Apex-Brasil (The Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency) is one of the most up-to-date agencies for promoting exports in the world. Within Brazil, it provides support to 80 sectors on its export agenda with technology, information, training and also financial resources. We began with a sectorial program for sisal in 2005, later including coir fibres and piassava and we are going to add jute, mallow and silk (produced by silkworms) this year. We have successfully attracted buyers and investors from various parts of the world who are interested in our natural fibres with Apex-Brasil’s support. Sindifibras and Apex-Brasil’s efforts are supplemented by the competent and productive work of private and inter-governmental agencies such as the International Natural Fibre Organization (INFO), the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (UN-FAO), Common Fund for Commodities (CFC) and United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), among others.

Sisal has multiple uses and is also a renewable fibre. How far does coir and piassava meet this diverse usability/pertinence?

Sisal is a little further ahead in this process but there is enormous space for all natural fibres, including coir and piassava. It should be highlighted that coir producing countries sell approximately US$200 million of coir fibre products per year and they are able to sell more.
Published on: 25/07/2012

DISCLAIMER: All views and opinions expressed in this column are solely of the interviewee, and they do not reflect in any way the opinion of Fibre2Fashion.com.

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