Coir as a natural organic product is organically biodegradable. The Fiber is hard and strong and decomposes slowly, making it perfectly suited for use in Geotextiles. Coir Geotextiles provide good support on slopes for about five years and there is no need for post-installation work. Coir Geotextiles is developed by the Coir Board of India.
The world has today accepted Coir Geotextiles and acknowledges its effectiveness. Coir Geotextiles, used in many kinds of applications like Slope Stabilisation, Controlling Soil Erosion, Road and Rail Embarkments, River Embarkments, Landscape Areas etc.,
Coir geotextiles with its Indianised connotation "Coir Bhoovastra", a generic member of the geosynthetic family, are made from the coconut fibre extracted from the husk of the coconut fruit as explained in the following section. Like their polymeric counter parts, coir geotextiles can be synthesised for specific applications in geotechnical engineering practice. Coir geotextiles is not a consumer product, but a technology based product. A range of different mesh matting is available, meeting varying requirements. Coir fibres can be converted into fabric both by woven and non-woven process. Coir mesh matting of different mesh sizes is the most established coir geotextiles. Mesh matting having different specifications is available under quality code numbers H2Ml to H2MIO. These qualities represent coir geotextiles of different mesh sizes ranging from 3.175mm to 25.4mm. Several types of non-woven geotextiles also exist. Most of the non-woven mats are made from loose fibres, which are interlocked by needling or rubberising. Non-woven geotextiles are available in several dimensions and have a minimum thickness of 2mm.
Coir geotextiles can be used to stabilize the soil temporarily when construction roads or banks. Coir geotextiles are being used as a separation cum drainage layer in the road. It is also intended to serve as a reinforcement material in the beginning of the project. Geo-synthetics are widely used in the construction of road all over the world, whereas use of coir geotextiles is very limited in such construction.
Few Indian Major Players are as under
• Amco Industries Ltd.
• Amichand Textiles Ltd.
• Aspinwall & Co. (Travancore) Ltd.
• Delight Handicrafts Palace Ltd.
• Dunlop Comforts Pvt. Ltd.
• Duroflex Pvt. Ltd.
• Eco Wood Ltd.
• Karnataka Consumer Products Ltd.
• Karnataka State Coir Devp. Corpn. Ltd.
• Kerala State Coir Corpn. Ltd.
• Kontak Comforts Pvt. Ltd.
• Kozylon Coir Products Ltd.
• Wires & Fabriks (S.A.) Ltd.