Bioresource potential of the mulberry–silkworm ecosystem: A circular bioeconomy perspective

Abstract

Sericulture, historically regarded as a silk-centric production system, has evolved into a diversified bioresource industry with strong economic, environmental and social significance. Traditionally focused on cocoon production for raw silk, the sector now generates a wide spectrum of commercially valuable products and by-products derived from mulberry biomass, silkworm rearing residues, grainage components and reeling waste streams. Scientific advancements in biotechnology, biomaterials, nutraceuticals and industrial chemistry have uncovered high-value compounds such as polyphenols, anthocyanins, cellulose nanofibres, chitin, chitosan, fibroin and sericin embedded within previously neglected sericulture residues. Mulberry leaves, stems, bark, fruits and roots are now extensively utilized in livestock feed formulations, functional foods, cosmeceuticals, herbal pharmaceuticals and biodegradable composites, contributing to resource efficiency and rural income diversification. Similarly, silkworm litter, exuviae, dead larvae, pupae and pierced cocoons are being channelled into organic fertilizers, aquafeed, spun silk, biomedical textiles, bioenergy and high-value protein recovery. Reeling waste has emerged as a major industrial raw material through innovations such as non-woven silken fabrics, sericin-based skincare formulations and fibroin-driven medical scaffolds. The full utilization of these value streams enhances livelihood resilience among rural households, strengthens women-led entrepreneurship and supports climate-smart circular economies by minimizing waste and improving resource-use efficiency. To sustain this transition, strategic interventions in technology dissemination, enterprise incubation, market integration and policy support are critical. Altogether, sericulture demonstrates a successful transformation from a single-output textile enterprise into a multi-sectoral bioindustrial platform capable of serving global markets across textiles, health, cosmetics, agriculture and biomaterials.