Jute & Environment

Jute is an eco friendly and recyclable natural fiber. It has a lot of environmental benefits because of its chemical and physical properties. Discarding of jute does not cause any environmental hazard. Jute has high tensile force and enhanced breathability because of which it is utilized for packing of consumable and agricultural supplies. Hessian and jute fibers are skin friendly and thus suitable for making range of versatile cloths. The threads of jute are course and strong but still it can create artificial silk. It can easily be mixed up with other fibers and hence it creates huge range of products such as bags, carpets, rugs, clothes, etc. it is also used as a substitute of paper and hence saving trees. India produces around 2-3rd of world’s jute. Thus, it spreads eco friendly fiber all over the world.

The advantages of jute in respect of environment includes purification of air, upgrading soil conditions, biological effectiveness, reduction of hazards, etc. Jute plants cleanse the atmosphere by releasing about 11 tons of oxygen in the growing season i.e. about 100 days and consuming 15 tons of carbon dioxide. The inner woody core of the jute plant produces huge amount of cellulose, which satisfies wood need of the world to a large extent and thus protecting industrialization and deforestation. Wastelands like tidal areas can be developed by growing jute, after growing jute; multiple times those wastelands can be efficient in growing other crops like rice, wheat, etc. Very fewer pesticides are used in growing the jute plants unlike cotton, which causes huge impact to the environment. Jute plants are harvested during the monsoons thus consuming very less water while cotton production needs around 2.5% of world’s water. It is grown traditionally and does not require any genetic modification. Jute has exceptional antistatic and insulating properties. Jute products are also used in place of poly bags. Poly sacks are produced by PP cloth that causes a lot of pollution to the environment.

Geotextiles is another excellent light spun jute fabric commonly used in the agricultural sector. It is produced by natural fibers and can be used for about a year. It controls soil erosion, spreading of weed, and protects the seed. Once the jute Geotextile is used up, it can be dumped in the land, which will keep the ground cool and make it more fertile. Jute supplements the cultivated land with organic and nitrogen components. The remains of jute stalks can be renewed as cooking fuel and construction material.

Jute is a labor-intensive crop. Its labor cost is about 70% of the total cost. The Bangladeshi diet includes fish in large amount, which can be found in the flooded fields of jute plant. Jute leaves are fit for human consumption and thus a free supply for the poor. Jute commonly known as the golden fiber is an outstanding natural fiber, which has innumerable usages and advantages, and our country is one of the biggest jute exporters of the world. Thus, future of jute in India is very bright as it is successfully satisfying the requirements of industries across the country as well as globally through jute export.