Sericulture Waste to Wealth: A Review of By-product Utilization and Sustainable Management

Authors: Yendrembam Surjalata Devi; Md Haroon Rashid
Sericulture Waste to Wealth: A Review of By-product Utilization and Sustainable Management
DOI
10.25125/ijoear-mar-2026-37
DIN
IJOEAR-MAR-2026-37
Abstract

Sericulture, an important component of the rural economy of Northeast India, offers considerable opportunities for sustainable development through the effective utilization of its by-products. Sericulture by-products represent valuable biological resources that can be transformed into economically useful products, contributing to sustainable production systems and a circular bioeconomy. Pupae, larval excreta, leftover host-plant resources, defective cocoons, silk fibre waste, and wastewater from silk processing are among the leftovers produced during silkworm rearing, cocoon processing, and silk manufacture that have the potential to contribute value. Silkworm pupae can be used in food and feed applications due to their high protein and lipid content, while host plant leftovers and larval excrement can be turned into compost and organic manure. Handicrafts, recycled textiles, and other value-added goods can make use of short silk fibres and defective cocoons. Moreover, protein recovery from wastewater from silk production has prospective uses in biomaterials, cosmetics, and related industries. However, limited processing infrastructure, poor technological advancement, difficulties with quality control, and a lack of market connections continue to limit the economic use of these by-products. The main by-products of eri sericulture, their possible uses, and the important factors related to their sustainable use are highlighted in this paper. Additionally, it highlights the necessity of species-specific research, economical processing methods, better waste management, and increased cooperation between government agencies, businesses, farmers, and researchers. By-product valorisation could be integrated into eri sericulture to reduce environmental pollution, increase resource efficiency, diversify farmers' sources of income, and create jobs in rural areas. All things considered, if suggested utilisation paths are both commercially and scientifically viable, a circular bioeconomy approach to eri sericulture can support sustainable silk production and enhance livelihoods in North-east India.

Keywords
Sericulture; sericulture by-products; waste management; circular bioeconomy; sustainable development; Northeast India.
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Introduction

India has a glorious sericulture tradition with the unique feature of producing all the different types of commercial silks, namely mulberry, tropical tasar, oak tasar, eri, and muga. Sericulture is a labour-intensive cottage industry that can be undertaken by rural farmers, entrepreneurs, and artisans with low investment and high returns. Sericulture provides income and employment opportunities to small and marginal farmers and economically weaker sections of society, giving a high benefit-cost ratio compared to other crops through raw silk production [1]. Besides silk production, other beneficial products are released whose economic values are less than the total cost involved; these are often termed "sericulture waste" or "seri-waste". The major wastes and by-products include plant waste (leaves, fruits, stems and barks), silkworm waste, pupal waste, protein waste (sericin and fibroin), post-silk extraction process, etc. With effective utilisation of these products, sericulture can emerge as a promising occupation in farmers' minds, generating additional income and benefiting their economy [2]. According to the annual report of the Central Silk Board, total raw silk production in India during 2024–25 was recorded at 41,121 metric tonnes, marking a 6% increase over the previous year's figures. The mulberry variety continued to hold its position at the top with 75.68% (31,119 metric tonnes), followed by the total raw silk production in the vanya variety, which comprised eri at 19.18% (7,886 metric tonnes), tasar at 4.58% (1,884 metric tonnes), and muga at 0.56% (232 metric tonnes). Although tasar and eri varieties showed growth in raw silk production at 19% and 10%, respectively, the muga variety declined by 8%. Sericulture not only produces silk but also generates a wide range of valuable by-products that offer substantial economic and environmental benefits. These include silkworm pupae, silkworm litter, reeling waste, perforated cocoons, and mulberry biomass, all of which can be utilized in diverse sectors such as animal feed, bioenergy, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and biocomposites. Effective valorization of these by-products enhances the overall profitability of sericulture, supports waste minimization, and strengthens circular bioeconomy models that provide additional income opportunities and improved livelihoods for rural communities [3]. Effective processing methods are required to maximize the return from silk cocoon by-products within the sericulture industry.

Conclusion

The utilization of sericulture by-products offers a significant opportunity to promote sustainable, resource-efficient, and economically viable eri silk production. Major by-products of eri sericulture, including silkworm pupae, larval excreta, leftover host-plant materials, defective cocoons, silk fibre waste, and silk-processing wastewater, possess considerable potential for value addition. Eri silkworm pupae are valuable sources of protein and lipids, making them potential ingredients for food and feed applications. Meanwhile, larval excreta and host-plant residues can be utilized for composting and nutrient recycling, contributing to sustainable agricultural practices. Defective cocoons and short fibres may be used in handicrafts, recycled textiles, and other value-added products. Moreover, sericin-containing wastewater produced during the production of silk presents chances for the recovery of proteins and their uses in biomaterials, cosmetics, and other industrial fields.

Despite these advantages, poor processing technologies, low awareness, inadequate infrastructure, difficulties with quality control, and underdeveloped markets continue to hinder the efficient use of eri sericulture by-products. To assess the composition, safety, recovery effectiveness, and commercial viability of various by-products, comprehensive research is thus required. The development of affordable technology for the production of organic fertiliser, protein recovery, and the transformation of biological leftovers into products with added value should receive special emphasis. To develop suitable technologies and create sustainable value chains, research institutions, sericulture departments, businesses, and eri farmers must work together more closely.

Promoting by-product utilization in eri- and muga-producing regions of Northeast India could improve farmers' income, generate rural employment, reduce waste-disposal problems, and support circular bioeconomy initiatives. The nutritional value of eri silkworm pupae and the potential recovery of silk proteins from processing wastewater provide useful starting points for developing such approaches. However, findings from conventional silk-processing systems should be adapted to eri silk only after species-specific and process-specific validation. Overall, transforming eri sericulture by-products into valuable products can contribute significantly to sustainable sericulture development, environmental protection, and improved rural livelihoods, provided that the proposed technologies are scientifically validated, environmentally sound, and economically feasible.

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