Journal of Natural Fibers

Production, Consumption, and Innovation of Natural Textile Fibers: Towards a Sustainable, Circular, and Ethical Global Fashion Economy

Global production and consumption of textile materials are increasingly shaped by the pertinent need to align production with principles of current principles sustainability and circularity, while ensuring ethical issues are not forgotten. Natural fibers such as cotton, silk, wool, flax, hemp sisal, pineapple, ramie, Kenaf, Kapok, coir, and banana hold unique potential to drive innovation in sustainable textiles due to their cultural, biodegradability and versatility relevance across diverse regions. The production, characterization value addition of these fibers provides a foundation for developing eco-friendly products that merge traditional materials with modern applications. The designed products need to be assessed for sustainability, so life cycle thinking in design, production and consumption is also important. These articles will integrate innovation in manufacturing with responsible consumption and production models in the textile and fashion industry and hence contribute to the advancement toward resilient, circular systems that balance economic growth and ethical considerations with environmental responsibility.

Natural fibers are renewable, biodegradable, and culturally embedded, and can therefore be included in sustainability and circularity models that includes respect for ethical considerations.  By focusing on production and characterization and integrating them in the design of eco-friendly products which include biodegradable composites, beauty and medical products, will expand their use beyond apparel into construction, automotive, medical and technical textiles hence reducing reliance on petroleum-based synthetics. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) ensures that sustainability is measured across the entire chain, hence providing data and models for implementing sustainability manufacturing models. Hard fibers like hemp and banana offer durability and resilience, while soft fibers like cotton and wool provide comfort and versatility; both categories can be optimized for sustainable manufacturing. Finally, the biodegradable nature of natural fibers positions them as critical solutions to global waste and pollution crises, especially in contrast to synthetic textiles that dominate fast fashion.

This Article Collection explores the production and characterization of natural fibers, their integration into the design of innovation products and the application of life cycle assessment (LCA) to evaluate environmental impacts across production, consumption, and end-of-life stages. Contributions may include original research articles, reviews, and brief reports that highlight innovation in fiber processing, sustainable manufacturing, and global consumption models such as:

• Production and Characterization of Natural Fibers: Mechanical, chemical, and ecological profiling of Natural fibers
• Natural Fiber Composites and Innovative Applications: Innovative uses of natural fibers in composites, smart textiles, medical applications etc
• Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of Natural Fiber Textiles: Environmental footprint/impacts across the textile and fashion value chain.
• Hard Fibers in Sustainable Manufacturing: Regional case studies on industrial innovation with natural fibers
• Biodegradability and End-of-Life Strategies: Biodegradation pathways/case studies of natural fibers.

Keywords:

1. Characterization
2. Composites
3. Life Cycle assessment
4. Hard fibers
5. Biodegradable

­­All manuscripts submitted to this Article Collection will undergo a full peer-review; the Guest Advisor for this Collection will not be handling the manuscripts (unless they are an Editorial Board member).

Please review the journal scope and author submission instructions prior to submitting a manuscript. Journal of Natural Fibers accepts the following types of article: Research Articles, Brief Reports, and Review Articles.

The deadline for submitting manuscripts is August 6, 2027.

Please contact Kara Roberts at kara.roberts@taylorandfrancis.com with any queries on discount codes regarding this Article Collection.

Please be sure to select the appropriate Article Collection from the drop-down menu in the submission system.

Guest Advisors declares no potential conflicts of interests in line with our Editorial Policies.

Prof. Mwasiagi is a trained textile engineer, with a Bachelor of Technology in Textile Technology (PSG Tech), a Master of Science in Textile Engineering (China Textile University), and a Doctor of Engineering in Textile Engineering (Donghua University). Professor Mwasiagi currently works at Moi University as an Associate Professor of Textile Engineering and has vast research, practical, and teaching experience in textiles and fashion. He has published over 100 papers in textiles and fashion and has carried out several projects, including the development of sustainable and circular modules for textiles and fashion (for TVET institutions), training engineers in Africa, value addition to banana fibers, and training SMEs on natural dyes and sustainable textile business models.

Dr. Muzzamal Hussain is an Assistant Professor of Textile Engineering at National Textile University, Faisalabad, Pakistan, and Co-Founder of KnowTex Solutions and Alternative Fiber Solutions. His research focuses on natural fibers, textile circularity, agricultural waste valorization, sustainable materials, and natural fiber reinforced composites. He has authored 36 journal articles and ten book chapters, co-edited three books, and contributed to eight patent applications and three licensed technologies.

Dr. Nonsikelelo Sheron Mpofu is a Materials and Textile Engineer with research expertise in sustainable and circular textiles, including textile recycling, durability, functional and smart textiles, nanotechnology, electrospinning, and additive manufacturing. Research focuses on innovative textile materials, surface modification, green nanotechnology, 3D printing, and life cycle assessment for sustainable textile applications. Research activities span the development of multifunctional textile materials and advanced manufacturing approaches for circular textile systems. The work also involves collaboration with academic and industry partners to develop practical solutions for more sustainable textiles.