Which Are The Biggest Forest-Based Industries?

Shellac needs special mention in the forest products industry because of its wide range of uses. And it would not be an exaggeration to say that this is the only natural product that is used in food and medicine. Its demand is so high that the government has even constituted an independent board for the growth and development of the shellac industry.

Let's discuss about the properties of shellac and its uses

What Is Shellac?

It is common to ask this question because it is difficult to understand its uses without going through its origin. It is a forest produce because it is found only in the woods. It is a resin secreted by the female lac bug found in woods in India and Thailand. The secretion gets deposited on the bark of the trees in the form of conch shell and it has to be scraped out from the trees. In its natural state, it takes the form of a tunnel-like tube as it traverses the wood.

The forest-based industries remove raw shellac from trees and send it for refinement. Since it is scratched from trees, it contains bark and insects that need to be removed before shellac can be used. When refined it comes out in liquid form but it is sold in solid form as liquid lac has a shelf life of less than a year. Dry lacquer is sold in hardware stores for household and industrial consumption.

Shellac has various uses in medicine, food, and the fashion industry. Its properties make it useful in almost every industry, including electroplating, paints and waxes. Moreover, its use is increasing as more and more industries are finding this forest product useful for their products. Shellac is used to make various products but here we will discuss only the most important ones.

Here’s The List Of Important Shellac Products

Pharmaceutical:- Enteric tablets are the most important of all shellac products in India. Prescribed for an upset stomach, these tablets are coated with shellac so that the medicine does not dissolve in the stomach. The shellac coating allows for a "timed release" of the drug in the lower abdomen. And there is no other way to make the intestinal drugs used to treat upset stomach.

Confectionery:- Shellac is only used to create a protective coating on candies to make the candies shiny. But there is nothing to worry about any side effects as it has been approved by the FDA as a food-safe coating. Shellac from India is exported to foreign countries for making confectionery.

Electrical:- Lamp manufacturers use shellac mixed with marble dust to glue the metal base of lamps to glass incandescent bulbs. But it is one of the many electric shellac products in India. Shellac is exported to the world for making similar products by electric companies.

Hats:- Shellac is used to make hats of various shapes and sizes. Felt used for hat making is treated with shellac to achieve the required stiffness. Stiff felt is easy to mold into any shape, including rim and bowl shapes.

Shellac Wax:- It is another important constituent of the forest products industry. Shellac wax used in cosmetics, high-glass polish, lipstick and other related products is in demand in the country as well as abroad.

The government is taking all necessary steps to strengthen the industries based on forest produce. For example, Export Promotion Councils have been formed to cater to the needs of the industries.

In 1957, the government formed Shellac Export Promotion Council (SEPC) to facilitate the promotion and export of shellac-based products around the world. SEPC was given more power in 2005 and 2007 to cater to the diverse needs of shellac manufacturers.