Tarps, Canvas and FabricsUpdated: October 29th, 2019
Created: December 12th, 2016Canvas usually refers to plant based thick material, although I have noticed the word used for synthetics.
Lifespan is paramount:
Untreated plant fibres, coconut being an exception, may only last a couple of years and whereas waterproofing will add some durability it's difficult to discover what may be used in commercially available proofed canvas.
Plant Fibres
The production of plant fibres, although seemingly benign, requires huge areas of land and in the case of cotton huge quantities of water and with the exception of organic cotton many toxic chemicals; add to that the demanding labour required, approaching slavery. Plant fibre canvas also requires a lot of treatment to make it durable to light and impermeable rain to add durability, it's strength otherwise depending largely upon size of yarn and weave.
Although fibres, other than cotton, notably hemp and linen, can be less demanding to grow and harvest the treatment applied may not be so benign in it's biological impact. (UPDATE This with detail)
Cotton, hemp, linen and jute(hessian)
Canvas is still available as pre-made tarpaulins, proofed and eye-letted in cotton and flax.
Linen (flax) Best environmental option due to low production needs
protectivetextile.co.uk Bought Flax 18ft x 24ft (5.5m x 7.3m)
Next page :: Synthetics
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