Source: Fort Mill Times

Rubber-Cal Inc. is adding over 100 new residential doormats to their already-large selection of home and commercial entrance mats. These printed coir mats are hand-made from 100% natural coconut fiber, and are perfectly suited to join the company’s vast line of eco-friendly products. Being constructed from natural materials, coir or cocomats are designed to perform in outdoor weather conditions. Since most rubber plantations in South East Asia are located side to side with coconut farms, the move to bring coir mats to consumers was a natural and practical decision.

Source: SME Times

The first thing when we hear about coir comes to our mind is traditional items like mats, baskets and ropes, but it is not the case anymore.

With the changing times and growing charm for eco-friendly products, the golden fibre is finding new applications and is also being preferred in road construction.

Source: Sun Star

THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) have conducted a one-day stakeholders' conference aimed to validate the Zamboanga Peninsula 2013 coco-coir industry action plan.

Source: Malaya Business Insight

The Van der Knaap Group of Companies has uncovered plans to expand its business in processing and marketing of coco peat from coconut husks into high value horticultural substrates in the Philippines for export.

Source: ColomboPage News Desk

Sri Lanka's Ministry of Industry and Commerce has decided to introduce new coir products to the international market to enhance the exports of coconut coir fiber based products.

Source: Philippine Information Agency     By Ninfa Iluminda B. Quirante

The use of coco coir in projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) not only has helped in flood control, it has also given livelihood to Eastern Visayans.

This is according to Trade and Industry Samar Chief Meilo Macabare.

Source: THE WALL STREET JOURNAL.  By Laura Johannes

More fabrics are being crafted from materials that sound like they came straight out of a forest. Made from bamboo, eucalyptus and coconut, the fabrics are promoted as having the ability to deter bacterial growth, but scientists say some claims aren't proven.

Source: Daily News

The Chinese government agreed to provide assistance to develop Sri Lanka's coconut industry.

This was revealed during discussions between Coconut Development and Janatha Estate Development Minister Jagath Pushpakumara and Chinese ambassador to Sri Lanka, Wu Jinhao recently.

Source: Leyte Samar Daily Express

A 20-kilometer section of a national road in Capoocan, Leyte is now a priority in the installation of coco nets to prevent future landslides that would halt travel in one of the region’s busiest highway.

Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Leyte 2nd Engineering District chief Margarita Junia said that as the area in Culasian village in Capoocan is confirmed landslide prone, they will install coco nets before the end of the year or early next year.

Resouce: DesignNews

Researchers in Malaysia have developed a bio-based composite material by substituting coconut fibers for traditional ceramic fibers in biocomposite tiles. The natural fibers improve the strength and stiffness of the composite materials and also reduce their weight.

The low density, high cellulose content, and abundance of coconut shell fibers, make them popular in Southeast Asia and other areas for a number of rope, fiber, and textile applications. Other advantages of using the fibers of coconut coir include its toughness, low density, low cost, and biodegradability. Several different types of biocomposites already exist, including those composed of biodegradable plant-based or animal-based natural fibers, such as flax, jute, silk, or wool.