Kenaf is a plant related to the okra and cotton family that has been known for 4000 years. It is an annual plant – it grows new each year and then dies back in winter. It produces stems with a very fibrous content. It is native to central Africa and is an extremely fast growing plant, putting on 6 metres of growth in a single season (about 5 months).
There is a lot of interest in kenaf as it could provide a substitute to wood for making paper. An endless number of trees are cut down every year to feed our growing appetite for paper and there is a danger that we are cutting down trees faster than they can grow. Kenaf, with its high growth rate in one year is perfect for the supply of raw material needed for paper making and its stems are naturally white, meaning that it needs less bleaching in the paper making process.
There is a lot of interest in kenaf as it could provide a substitute to wood for making paper. An endless number of trees are cut down every year to feed our growing appetite for paper and there is a danger that we are cutting down trees faster than they can grow. Kenaf, with its high growth rate in one year is perfect for the supply of raw material needed for paper making and its stems are naturally white, meaning that it needs less bleaching in the paper making process.