1. Cleansing the Air
Studies have shown that 1 hectare of jute cultivation can absorb up to 15 tons of carbon dioxide and release 11 tons of oxygen during the jute growing process (about 100 days) a benefit for our environment and planet, for a green and sustainable development.
2. Reducing Environmental Pollution
Jute fabric is the best alternative to stop toxic wastes. Plastic bags are being substituted by jute bags, to prevent environment from pollution. Plastic bags have been effectively banned in India and in many other countries due to their harmful components.
3. Lowers the Burden From Natural Oil Reserves
Plastic and poly bags are made from petroleum. Petroleum resources are depleting very fast, which results in an increase in petroleum price and inflation rate.
4. More Land Available for Food production
Jute cultivation requires less acreage to grow. One hectare of field can produce much more jute fibre than one hectare of cotton cultivation. This acreage reduction allows more food crops and therefore reduces risk of food inflation.
5. Backward Rural Area situation is improved
Jute is mostly cultivated in the backward areas of India and Bangladesh near the coast of Bay of Bengal. The building of jute industries in these regions would increase employment and development of backward rural and remote areas, and consequently less migration to urban areas.
6. Pesticide, herbicide, fertilizer and acreage are highly reduced
Jute crop requires less fertilizer, herbicide and pesticide compared to cotton crop. Compared to cotton, Jute crop requires less acreage to produce the same amount of vegetable fibre.
7. Soil Condition, Texture and Fertility are improved
After a jute crop, leaves and roots of jute plants remain into the field, these have the property to make the soil and to improve its texture.
8. High Production Level compared to Cotton
Jute has high capacity production. Jute can be harvested every 4 or 6 months and can produce between 20 and 40 tonnes per hectare. Compared to cotton, the fastest growing trees take between 10 and 14 years to mature. In addition, trees only produce between 8 to 12 tons of cotton per hectare annually. This is why jute is the best and cheaper option.
9. Beneficial for the following Crops
When jute crop is rotated with other crops on the same field, the productivity of other crops are increased and the risk of diseases is reduced.During jute crops many nutrients are replenished in the field soil, making the field fertile to benefit the next crop. The rotation of jute with other crops contribute to increase the soil fertility.
10. Can Save Millions of Trees Worldwide
Every year hundreds of thousands of trees are cut for paper and furniture industries. If we opt for bags and furniture made of jute, we may save millions of trees. The increasing level of awareness about the environment and the benefits of jute, leads more and more people to select jute and make their lifestyle more green and eco-friendly. Not only using jute bags, but also using craft, decorative items, footwear, carpets, clothing, webbing, handcrafts… in jute. Geotextile and jute fabrics for construction are highly requested too.
11. Help to maintain Ecological Balance in the Nature
Trees are very important for our planet to maintain the earth’s environmental balance. Using jute products will save these trees and contribute to ecological balance on the planet. Tree protection may solve problems such soil erosion, floods, rainfall imbalance, soil fertility, global warming, climate changes, shrinking wildlife habitats, etc.
Plastic is known as one of the biggest threats to our environment. However, plastic pollution is increasing, and so is its production. At the time of its creation, in the 1960s, about 2.3 million tons of plastic were produced per year, globally. Today, that number is more than 448 million tons, and nearly half of this amount is used only once.
The human-made material that developed modern society is scattered all over, both on land and in the ocean. It can be found even in the deepest place of the ocean, the Mariana Trench (6.8 miles deep). The consequences are dangerous to the well-being of the planet, and also to human health.
At the core of this matter is one of plastic’s most prized properties, its durability, coupled with a rapid increase in single-use and disposable designs. Simply put, we are using materials designed to last seemingly forever for short-term purposes.
To reduce this dependence, other alternatives must enter. One potential replacement is jute, a vegetable fiber that comes primarily from the species Corchorus olitorius and Corchorus capsularis — and a material that is readily available, biodegradable and affordable.
Replacement of Plastic:
Emissions from plastics production and incineration could reach 56 gigatons of carbon between now and 2050. This amount represents 10 to 13 percent of the entire remaining carbon budget. Moreover, when plastic is left in the environment, it releases toxic compounds such as volatile organic chemicals, nitrogen oxides, polycyclic organic matter and sulfur dioxide.
Jute, on the other hand, uptakes carbon dioxide, one of the major greenhouse gases contributing to global warming. Studies show that one hectare of jute plants can soak up roughly 15 tonnes of CO2 and release about 11 tonnes of oxygen throughout one season, which in turn reduces CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere.
Plastic is not a biodegradable material and threatens life itself. It takes up to 500 years to disappear from the environment, while it breaks into pieces (microplastics) that still carry industrial chemicals. Furthermore, plastic manufacturing requires vast amounts of natural resources and its single-use design demands more production.
In contrast, jute growth requires less water than most crops. The soil where it grows can enhance its fertility if crop rotation techniques are employed. Moreover, as jute is a natural fiber, it’s 100 percent biodegradable, disappearing through the period of a few weeks to a few months. It is also a durable and robust material that can be reused numerous times, and it doesn’t potentially contaminate what’s held within with toxic components.
What are the long-term benefits of replacing plastic with jute?
The rise in the production of jute as a plastic replacement may meet five of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
1. assist the end of poverty because more farmers in developing countries where jute grows may benefit, which may increase their incomes and improve their lifestyles;
2. guarantee healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages;
3. ensure sustainable consumption and production models because the usage of jute may reduce resources’ consumption, degradation and pollution, thus increasing quality of life;
4. have immediate action towards the prevention of climate change and its repercussions;
5. Preserve the oceans, seas and the marine life within. Because plastic pollution in the ocean leads to abrupt shifts towards the location and numbers of numerous marine animals, the reduction might save millions of aquatic animals, such as sea turtles and whales, from extinction.