How is sisal harvested?

How is sisal harvested?

Agave sisalana is a versatile and popular fiber used in countless everyday products, including rugs. Learn more about how sisal fiber is harvested.

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The agave sisalana cactus is an incredibly versatile plant. Its fibers are used to create rope and rugs, but they’re also hidden in everyday items, like paper products, plaster and even automotive parts. As more producers turn to sustainable materials, sisal has grown in popularity, and its variety of uses has continued to expand.

Although native to Mexico, agave sisalana has been naturalized and cultivated across the world — some of the largest producers are Brazil, Tanzania and Kenya. Our collection of sisal rugs is harvested in superior-grade plantations in Tanzania. The strong sisal fibers are extracted from the plant’s long, green leaves, then washed, sun-dried, brushed, graded and bailed on the plantations. Each leaf of the agave plant contains about 1,000 fibers, and one plant produces around 200 leaves during its productive life cycle. Because the agave sisalana grows easily and is incredibly fruitful, it’s no wonder the plant is used in so many products.

Sisal is also a popular material because of its green properties. While the plant is harvested and processed, it generates mostly organic waste, and the leftover parts of the plant are used as bioenergy, animal feed and fertilizer. Our Tanzanian plantations use the plant residue to produce electricity in rural areas and feed local livestock. Every part of the plant is used, making sisal an excellent renewable resource.

As a versatile and sustainable plant, agave sisalana is a powerful resource for producing a variety of products. Check out our customizable sisal rugs and see for yourself the amazing properties of this popular material.

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