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Environmental pressure groups are strongly advocating against felling of forests to reduce green house effect and protect biodiversity. In this context, non wood fibrous raw materials assume greater significance in pulp and paper manufacture for countries with limited forest resources such as India. The use of non wood plant fibres has always remained in active consideration from different points of views including agri-residues disposal, conservation of natural wood resources, cost reduction and their simpler process requirement, etc. Sisal was considered as an alternative raw material for paper manufacture. The sisal board was used in the production of corrugated fibre board boxes. The sisal paper boards were tested for their different properties. The paper board sample having desirable strength properties was taken as the raw material for corrugated fibre board manufacture. The boxes developed were tested for their strength both under laboratory and field conditions

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Dr. Dawn C.P. Ambrose is presently working as senior scientist at Central Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Regional Centre, Coimbatore. India. She has published many research papers and edited books and contributed in book chapters. Her major area of professional interest is post harvest technology and value addition.

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