Seagrass, natural fibre alternative

Description
Seagrass, the salt marsh grass plant is grown in water flooded paddy or sea fields
Leaves are harvested by hand, dried and spun into thick fibres
Natural colours are green and light brown tones
Naturally smooth outer skin with a soft sheen
Course basket weave, fine and standard weave herringbone and cross weave patterns available with wefts of other natural fibres to add colour
Natural irregularities in colour and weave

Uses
Flooring: floor coverings, rugs – suitable for low traffic areas, not suitable for stairs
Walls: woven wall coverings
Accessories: baskets, woven goods
Architectural: Roof thatching

Advantages
High stain resistance
Good anti static properties
Naturally fire resistant
Good noise and impact absorption properties
Good thermal insulating properties
Minimal moisture absorption unlike other natural fibres
Low to medium cost
Comfortable underfoot

Disadvantages
Natural colour will fade over time
Difficult to clean
May require frequent cleaning
Fibres cannot be dyed
Furniture will make indentations
Chairs on rollers will damage woven floor coverings
Fibres may react to altering climates and humidity

Embodied Energy
Manufacturing is mostly done by hand, thus low embodied energy levels
Importing the material and product into global countries adds considerably to the level of embodied energy through transportation and distribution

Source/Origin
Farmed and harvested along the coast or riverbanks in Southeast Asia, China and Vietnam

Renewable
Yes fully

Environment & health
Some uncertainties are present about the use of pesticides and preservatives during farming and the production process
Adhesives can be water based, low VOCs or zero VOCs
Floor coverings are typically backed with latex or urethane to prevent the installation adhesive seeping through
Seek water based adhesives

Performance
Durable and hardwearing

Recyclable
n/a

Disposal / Biodegradable
Fully biodegradable

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