Coir Wood: A Natural Alternative

Coir plywood (or coir ply) has become a popular plywood alternative. As forests continue to be depleted of their timber, it is becoming even more important to find sustainable, alternative building materials. Coir is made from the fibers of coconut husks. As the thickest and toughest natural commercial fiber, coir is an excellent choice for durable textiles. It has become more popular as a wood alternative as consumers look for more sustainable and eco-friendly options. 

Natural and Eco-Friendly

As a byproduct of coconut processing, coir is an abundant and renewable natural resource. The typical coconut tree produces 50 to 100 coconuts per year. After being harvested, coconuts are separated into their parts (the kernel and the husk), leaving what was once considered waste — the coconut coir. This coir is then combined with a polymeric matrix, such as phenol, polyester, or epoxy, and processed under a controlled pressure and temperature. It is an eco-friendly, sustainable, and sensible alternative to wood.

Properties of Coir Plywood

Coir is naturally abrasive, and it resists contraction and expansion in changing temperatures. Plywood made with coir has the properties of phenol-bonded ply and the strength of fiber-reinforced phenol bonding. Coir ply doesn’t flake like normal particle boards. During the manufacturing process, coir plywood can be given a natural, smooth, and glossy appearance. It doesn’t necessarily need surface treatment, but it can be painted, polished, or laminated. Coir plywood is also insect-resistant and has fire-retardant properties.

Applications

Coir wood has a high strength-to-weight ratio, relatively low energy conversion, and good sound and thermal insulation properties, all of which make it ideal for homes. Coir ply is available in various kinds of thicknesses, weights, strengths, and compositions. It can be used in door panels, kitchen cabinets, tables, chairs, and office, bedroom, and dining room furniture. It has an attractive, natural appearance with an earth-toned color. 

Corrugated coir ply is popular in India and other countries as a roofing material. In one example, 500 shelters were made using coir ply for walls and roofs in a region that experienced extreme climate conditions. The boards had water-resistance and insulation properties and demonstrated very few signs of wear after 14 years. 

Advancements in the Industry

Several businesses have been working to reduce the environmental impact of coir plywood production even more. For example, the Coir Board, based in India, has been working to improve the carbon emissions ratings of its coir plywood products. According to Coir Board Chairman RP Radhakrishnan, coir plywood may eventually replace many types of wood. Other groups have been looking at harvesting coir to offset the destruction caused by the logging industry. 

The primary advantage of coir wood composites is the result of coir itself. Coir ply is being used with increasing frequency around the world, especially in tropical countries, as an eco-friendly, sustainable, and reliable alternative to traditional plywood and other wood varieties. Against the backdrop of increasingly depleted natural resources and greater demand for timber and building supplies, coir ply is an excellent option.