Journal of Natural Fibers

Sustainable Natural Fibers, Bio-based Textiles and Advanced Fiber Materials: Achieving SDG 9, 12, and 13 for Responsible Production and Circular Economy

Natural fibers and bio-based textiles are gaining increasing attention as renewable alternatives to synthetic fibers and petroleum-based materials. They offer significant opportunities for developing resource-efficient, low-carbon, and circular products for textile, composite, construction, packaging, biomedical, automotive, and other industrial applications. However, challenges related to fiber quality, processing, durability, functionality, scalability, and end-of-life management continue to restrict their broader adoption. This Article Collection will highlight advances in sustainable natural fibers, bio-based textiles, and innovative fiber-based materials for future industrial and societal needs. Particular emphasis will be placed on technologies that improve material performance while reducing resource consumption, waste generation, and environmental impacts. The Collection supports SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and SDG 13 (Climate Action).

The textile and materials industries consume large quantities of water, energy, chemicals, and non-renewable resources while generating substantial emissions and waste. Natural fibers and bio-based textiles can help address these challenges through renewable resource utilization, cleaner production, waste reduction, and circular material systems. However, the environmental benefits of these materials must be demonstrated through responsible sourcing, efficient processing, extended durability, reuse, recycling, biodegradability, and life-cycle assessment. Further research is needed to translate laboratory-scale innovations into technically reliable, economically viable, and environmentally responsible industrial solutions. This Collection will connect advances in fiber extraction, modification, textile processing, composite development, performance evaluation, and end-of-life management. The resulting knowledge will support sustainable industrial innovation, responsible production and consumption, climate action, and the transition toward a resource-efficient circular economy.

This Article Collection highlights emerging scientific and industrial advances in sustainable natural fibers, bio-based textiles, and advanced fiber materials that promote responsible production, circularity, and environmental sustainability. It welcomes original research articles, comprehensive reviews, short communications, technical notes, and case studies addressing topics including, but not limited to:

• Sustainable sourcing, extraction, processing, and characterization of natural fibers
• Environmentally responsible fiber treatments and surface modification
• Sustainable manufacturing of bio-based textiles and apparel materials
• Natural dyes, bio-mordants, and cleaner-textile-processing technologies
• Functional, smart, protective, and responsive textiles
• Natural fiber reinforced polymer composites and performance evaluation
• Biodegradable, recyclable, reprocessable, and circular material systems
• Recycling, reuse, and value-added utilization of fiber and textile waste
• Scalable processing and industrial applications of sustainable fiber-based materials

Keywords:

1. Sustainable natural fibers
2. Bio-based textiles
3. Fiber-based materials
4. Circular Economy
5. Responsible production and consumption

This Article Collection is part of Taylor & Francis's SDG Article Collection Series. This series is dedicated to publishing groundbreaking research that addresses global sustainability challenges while accelerating progress toward achieving the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Articles published within this Collection will benefit from enhanced promotional activities across Taylor & Francis platforms, ensuring increased visibility and discoverability for your research.

This Collection supports the following SDGs:

SDG 9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure (Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation)

SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production (Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns)

SDG 13 Climate Action (Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts)

­­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.

The deadline for submitting manuscripts is August 31, 2027.

Please contact Kara Roberts at kara.roberts@taylorandfrancis.com for 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 do not declare any potential conflicts of interests in line with our Editorial Policies.

Dr. Subrata Chandra Das is a researcher specializing in sustainable composite and textile materials. He earned his Ph.D. from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Norway. His expertise includes natural fiber–reinforced polymer composites, hybrid composites, ageing behaviour, recycling and reuse of composites, valorization of biomass resources, and circular economy strategies of textiles and composite materials. Dr. Das has contributed to over 50 publications, including journal articles, book chapters, and conference papers. He has also served as a guest editor for special issues in international journals, and is a member of the editorial board of the Journal of Natural Fibers (Taylor & Francis).

Mr. Tarikul Islam is an Assistant Professor at Jashore University of Science and Technology, Bangladesh. He is also pursuing his Ph.D. at the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia, USA. His expertise encompasses biodegradable polymers, nonwoven materials, sustainable textiles, polymer composites, and advanced fiber-processing technologies. His research focuses on melt-blown biodegradable filtration media, cellulose-based materials, polymer characterization, and structure–property relationships. He has published extensively in high-impact, peer-reviewed journals and actively contributes to advancing sustainable polymer processing, functional textiles, and environmentally friendly materials. His work has been recognized through research awards and is supported by a strong publication record and steadily growing citation impact.

Dr. Sakil Mahmud is a Tenure-Track Assistant Professor of Chemistry at Lincoln University, specializing in biocomposites, polymers, and nanotechnology. He earned his Ph.D. in Chemistry and Physics of Polymers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, where he received the Excellent International Student Award. He has held research positions at leading institutions, including Louisiana State University and Central State University, Ohio. His research focuses on polymer synthesis, multifunctional materials, bio-based materials, and sustainable technologies. Dr. Mahmud has authored over 170 peer-reviewed publications in leading journals, including those published by Nature, ACS, Elsevier, and Springer. His achievements include ICE Awards and recognition among the world’s top 2% of scientists by Elsevier/Stanford University. His research has also received competitive funding, including support from the National Science Foundation (NSF). He serves as an Associate Editor for Surface Innovations. With expertise in materials science and sustainability, Dr. Mahmud develops advanced biocomposites and functional materials for emerging applications.