Sustainable Processing and Technical Textile Potential of Ramie and Its Blends: A Comprehensive Review

Ramie (Boehmeria nivea L. Gaud) is one of the oldest plant fibres known for its remarkable tensile strength, high cellulose purity, natural sheen and resistance to microbial attack. It has gained increased attention as an environmentally benign substitute for synthetic fibres and resource-intensive crops like cotton due to increasing emphasis on green textiles, sustainability and circular economy. However, the usage of ramie is limited by intrinsic disadvantages such as stiffness, brittleness, low elongation, high crease propensity and the presence of natural sticky gum that complicate further physical and chemical processing. Recent developments in enzymatic degumming methods that dramatically lower chemical use, energy use and effluent load while maintaining fibre strength and quality are reviewed after the difficulties with conventional chemical degumming. In order to improve the hand feel, dimensional stability, durability and functional performance of ramie fabrics, sustainable post-treatments like enzymatic bio-polishing, eco-friendly dyeing and sustainable surface modification are analyzed. The study also emphasizes on blending with various fibres as a crucial tactic to get over pure ramie's drawbacks leading to improvement in end-use performances. The study explores the growing use of blended ramie fabrics as a sustainable alternative in technical textiles, such as composites, geotextiles, protective apparel, agrotextiles, nonwovens and medical textiles. Lastly, the study concludes that ramie can be converted into a flexible, high-performance fibre appropriate for sophisticated technical textile applications through sustainable processing and appropriate blending with other natural fibres.