Fibrous bromeliads in Latin America and their use as raw material by traditional communities

Abstract

Sustainable Design includes a holistic approach that takes into account the entire life cycle of a product or system, from its origin to disposal. This approach has parallels with the knowledge and practices developed by traditional communities in Latin America. An example of this similarity is the use of native fibers in the manufacture of artifacts and traditional crafts. Among the botanical families used for such purposes, Bromeliaceae has been widely described in different locations. Given this situation, the present research aimed to carry out a bibliographical review of studies that present and describe the use of leaf fibers from different species of bromeliads by traditional communities in Latin America, highlighting their potential in strengthening the environmental, economic and social pillars of sustainable design and sustainable crafts. From the analysis of 19 selected works, several traditional uses of 17 species of Bromeliaceae were identified, with Aechmea magdalenae, Bromelia hieronymi and Neoglaziovia variegata being the most cited species. Through the investigation, it was possible to observe the great cultural and economic relevance of the use of bromeliad leaf fibers by traditional communities in Latin America, as an important example of biocultural diversity that must be preserved.