Ecological Profile Of Jute

The establishment of the first jute spinning mill on the banks of the river Hooghly in West Bengal, India, in 1855, has been credited to Sir George Auckland George Eden, Earl of Auckland, who was Governor-General of India between 1836 and 1842.

Since then, Indian jute has come a long way and today the industry boasts of a wide range of available products which are in huge demand both in the domestic Indian market as well as internationally.

Biologically, Jute is a vegetable based fibre plant, classified in the Malvaceae and more recently in the Sparrmanniaceae family by the Kew Royal Botanic Gardens. It is a bast fibre, one of the longest natural fibre and having a golden white silky shine, hence the birth of the term – Golden Fibre. Since it is composed primarily of vegetable plant material cellulose and wood fibre lignin, thus jute is partly fibre and partly wood.

Jute is recyclable, naturally decomposable, environmentally friendly, bio-degradable with high tensile strength, low in cost and extensibility, durable as well as versatile. The fabric helps to keep moisture within and its open weave structure allows for space and better breath ability. It has a low carbon footprint, its leaves and roots feeds the soil with micronutrients and it also helps to clean the air by assimilating three times more CO2 than the average tree, converting it into oxygen. Its combustion fumes are non-toxic and without residue.

Advantages of jute packaging include good sound and heat insulation and antistatic properties, low thermal conductivity and a moderate moisture regain. It includes acoustic insulating properties and manufactures with no skin irritations. It is strong, durable, color and light-fast fibre with good UV protection. Jute bags have porosity, easily withstand high temperatures and is much stronger than poly sacks

A key feature of jute is its ability to be used either independently or blended with a range of other fibres and materials. It also accepts cellulosic dye classes.

Jute is being used extensively in manufacturing different types of packaging material for agricultural, non-textile and industrial products. Jute’s biodegradable nature is suitable for the storage of food where synthetics would be unsuitable. JRP (Jute Reinforced Plastic) is widely used to pack tea and fruits, especially for its excellent ‘breathing properties’. Jute is used chiefly where synthetics would be unsuitable.

Plastic bags in general take anywhere from 20 to 1000 years to breakdown in the environment. Jute bags, which can be re-used and can be easily repaired is the natural alternative.