Fiberbased

Fiberbased refers to materials and products that are constructed from fibrous components, typically plant-derived or synthetic fibers used as the main structural element or reinforcement. The term is used across several industries, including packaging, textiles, and composites, to describe items made predominantly from fibrous material such as cellulose fibers from wood and crops, or synthetic fibers like polyester and polypropylene. Natural fibers such as cotton, flax, hemp, and jute, as well as engineered fibers, can be included under the fiberbased umbrella, sometimes in combination with binders or resins.

Production and forms vary by application. In paper and cardboard, fibers are extracted, refined, and formed into sheets through pulping and pressing. Textiles rely on spinning fibers into yarns that are woven, knitted, or nonwoven. In fiber-reinforced composites, short or continuous fibers are embedded in a polymer matrix to increase strength and stiffness. Nonwoven fiber materials are produced through mat-forming, needling, or thermal bonding. End-of-life options differ: fiber-based papers and textiles may be recycled or composted, while composites and many nonwovens depend on recycling streams or energy recovery.

Environmental and economic considerations influence fiberbased materials. They are often pursued for renewability and potential reductions in carbon footprint compared with fossil-based alternatives, but environmental performance depends on agricultural or manufacturing practices, energy use, and end-of-life management. Moisture sensitivity, mechanical properties, and cost can affect competitiveness. Standards and certifications related to sustainable sourcing, recyclability, and compostability are increasingly used to guide development and labeling.

Common applications include paper packaging and consumer tissue, textiles and technical fabrics (industrial, automotive, and geotextiles), and natural-fiber-reinforced composites for automotive parts, consumer goods, and construction materials.