The Future of Discarded Coconut Shells: Going Beyond Waste
Known as the “tree of life,” coconut trees are some of the most viable sources of income in tropical countries. Nearly every part of this kind of tree can be used in one way or another. But more often than not, these trees are harvested for their fruits’ flesh, which is then processed for oil and milk. While coconut trees provide people with a range of benefits, they also produce huge amounts of waste, particularly discarded coconut shells.
Across the world, 50 billion coconuts are grown each year. However, 85% of these coconuts’ shells are treated as waste. These discarded coconut shells are disposed of and burned in incinerators, thus creating high levels of greenhouse gas emissions.
Apart from this, another problem with the coconut industry has something to do with economic inequality. 10 million farmers, most of which are in South Asia and Southeast Asia, own around 95% of the billions of coconuts grown worldwide. Unfortunately, these coconut farmers earn an average of about $2 per day.
Coconut trees are indeed trees of life. But with the industry’s environmental and socioeconomic problems, can these trees really sustain the lives of people and the environment?
The answer is yes. Many people around the globe are now becoming aware of the problem with the coconut industry. That’s why more and more businesses are finding value in the once insignificant part of coconuts: coconut shells.
Coconut Shell Charcoal
Perhaps the oldest and most widespread use for coconut shells is for making charcoal. Because of their high volatile-matter content and low ash content, coconut shells are some of the best sources of charcoal.
Typically, they are turned into activated carbon, which serves as an invaluable material in wastewater treatment, healthcare, and chemical industries, among others. Since activated charcoal made from coconut shells can adsorb specific molecules, it provides an effective way of removing impurities.
Coconut shell charcoal is normally produced using either of two methods: drum method and briquetting process. Using a drum kiln is the most common traditional method of making charcoal out of coconut shells. This technique involves carbonizing the shell by burning it in an enclosed kiln with a limited supply of oxygen. While this method produces high-quality charcoal, it’s less eco-friendly than the briquetting process.
To produce coconut shell charcoal briquettes, the shells are carbonized and crushed into powder. Using a briquette machine, the crushed coconut shell charcoal is then molded with a natural binder. Coconut shell charcoal briquettes are great biofuel substitutes to traditional coal, and they are also easy to ignite and virtually smokeless when burned. Moreover, they give off more heat than regular charcoal.
Coconut Shell Concrete Powder
Coconut shells are known for their durable properties. They’re so durable that they’re used as aggregates in some parts of Asia. There are even studies that have delved into the potential of coconut shells as concrete powder, which is made by crushing coconut shells into fine powder. One study has shown that coconut shell powder (CSP) combined with concrete displayed no signs of carbon despite the fact that CSP alone contains 47% carbon. That means using CSP as a building material won’t pose problems to structural integrity such as shrinkage and corrosion of steel reinforcement.
Bowls Made from Coconut Shells
Apart from being used for making activated charcoal and concrete aggregates, coconut shells can also be crafted into some of the most common household items: bowls. It’s perhaps the most obvious yet often overlooked use for coconut shells. Although Mother Nature has seemingly intended coconut shells to be used as bowls, there are only a few companies that have thought of recycling these shells and making coconut bowls out of them.
Making coconut bowls is a pretty straightforward process. After the discarded shells are collected, they are cut, sanded, and polished with coconut oil. As a result, the previously unwanted shells are repurposed and transformed into food-safe bowls.
With businesses continuously pursuing the goal of reducing coconut waste, the future of our environment seems a bit brighter. And what’s more, giving a new purpose to discarded coconut shells can not only help save the environment but also support the livelihoods of coconut farmers.
