The Palmae family include a wide variety of species (e.g. date, coconut, oil, doum, sugar, etc.). They’re considered the main source of livelihood for significant sectors of the world population. The main product (cash crop) was the focus of growers, startups and investors. Their by-products (secondary products) received little attention from the scientific community.
Most palm species have similar by-products of annual pruning including; palm leaflets, midribs, fruit branches and coir, as well as the trunk at the end of palm life. These by-products may represent a sustainable material base for a wide spectrum of industries ranging from compost, medium density fiberboards (MDF), block boards, and pulp, up to fiber reinforcements for advanced composites. This opens a wide potential for the sustainable development of rural areas possessing palm plantation.
“the rediscovery of palm by-products as resources for the sustainable development”