Best Jute Products in Bangladesh

Bangladeshi entrepreneurs are now creating an impressive 282 different jute products, many of which are exported worldwide. This growth is driven by the rising popularity of jute products and the government’s focus on innovating and expanding their uses.

To support jute cultivation, the government ensures a steady supply of seeds and provides additional resources to farmers. As a result, jute production has significantly increased, supplying jute mills continuously and boosting export earnings. Farmers are also receiving fair prices for their jute, further encouraging production.

The Golden Fiber: Jute’s Impact on Bangladesh

In Bangladesh, jute is grown on around ten million acres of the five million acres of cultivable land. Known as “The Golden Fiber,” jute is a crucial crop for farmers in the country. Approximately 3 million farmers rely on jute cultivation for their livelihoods.

Every year, around 5-6 million bales of raw jute are produced. Additionally, about 1 million people work in the jute trade and industry. Currently, jute and its products contribute to roughly 10% of the country’s total foreign earnings and make up about 4% of the GDP. This highlights jute’s golden history in Bangladesh, where it has been an essential part of the economy and culture for decades.

Exploring the Best Jute Products in Bangladesh

• Jute Bags:

The versatility of jute extends to a myriad of bag designs catering to daily needs. From market shopping to travel and promotional purposes, jute bags are in high demand globally. Fashionable designs cater specifically to women, offering a range from handbags to beach bags, tote bags, sling bags, and sacks.

• Home Decor Items:

Jute products play a pivotal role in enhancing aesthetics within homes. From wall decorations to embroidered paintings, framed products, tapestries, mirrors, toys, lamps, wall hangings, plant hangers, mats, and various storage solutions, jute lends its rustic charm to create a warm and inviting ambiance.

• Jute for Crafts:

In the realm of crafts, jute finds its place in an array of creations. It serves as covers for notebooks and sketchbooks, pen holders, greeting cards, picture frames, document folders, gift containers, tissue boxes, coasters, hammocks, lampshades, jewelry, stationery, dolls, and toys, adding a touch of eco-friendly sophistication to handmade goods.

• Jute Textile:

Jute’s utility extends to textile applications, including hessian cloth, geotextiles, yarn, carpet cloth, hydrocarbon-free cloth, and canvas, offering sustainable alternatives for various industrial and domestic purposes.

• Jute Products:

Beyond bags and crafts, jute lends itself to apparel and furnishings. Fashion enthusiasts can enjoy jute jackets, footwear, and fashion accessories, while home decorators can opt for jute mats, ropes, cushion covers, fabrics, blinds, rugs, and carpets, seamlessly blending sustainability with style.

Other Jute Products Include:

1. Burlap and Hessian Cloth:These fabrics, made from jute yarns, serve packaging purposes due to their coarse and sturdy nature. They come in various qualities tailored for different packaging needs and are often used for covering materials or crafting.
2. Sacking Bags:These bags, crafted from heavy and loosely woven jute fabrics, are commonly employed for storing various commodities.
3. Handbags and Shopping Bags:Jute bags have become a fashionable domestic accessory, with options ranging from trendy handbags to practical shopping and office bags.
4. Jute Yarns:The initial step in creating jute fabric involves converting jute fibers into yarns. These yarns are also sold independently for manufacturing various items, including carpets.
5. Ropes (Yarns):Jute ropes serve as eco-friendly alternatives to synthetic options like nylon, finding applications in various industries.
6. Decorative Fabrics:Utilizing jute yarns and fabrics, artisans craft home decor items such as cushion covers, curtains, and bed sheets, enhancing interior aesthetics.
7. Canvas Fabric:Jute canvas, tightly woven, finds use in heavy material packaging due to its durability and strength.
8. Floor Covering:Jute products, including rugs and carpets, provide natural and stylish floor covering solutions.
9. Handmade Mats:Traditional hand-woven jute mats are prevalent in the rural areas of eastern India, showcasing the craftsmanship of local artisans.

Versatility of Jute Products

Jute has numerous applications beyond its traditional use. Its byproducts are utilized in cosmetics, medicine, paints, and various other products.

• Notable Features:

Jute stands out for its eco-friendliness, being entirely biodegradable and recyclable. It demands minimal pesticides and fertilizers, making it a sustainable choice. Renowned for its lustrous golden sheen, it’s aptly dubbed “The Golden Fibre.”

Being the most economical vegetable fiber obtained from the plant’s stem, it’s second only to cotton in global importance and usage. With its robust tensile strength, limited extensibility, and excellent breathability, jute is highly favored for agricultural bulk packaging.

Its versatility extends to theproduction of industrial yarn, fabric, nets, and sacks, catering to diverse sectors like packaging, textiles, construction, and agriculture.

• Unique Qualities:

Despite its advantageous properties, jute exhibits some unique characteristics. Blending it with other fibers alters its breaking tenacity and extensibility. The primary source of top-quality jute lies in the Bengal Delta Plain of the Ganges Delta, mainly in Bangladesh.

Its insulation, antistatic, and moderate moisture-regaining abilities make it a preferred choice. Moreover, jute causes no skin irritations and boasts acoustic insulating properties.

Its compatibility with various dye classes and capacity for blending with other fibers position it favorably in the ever-growing demand for natural comfort fibers.

• Innovations in Processing:

Manufacturers are gearing up to meet the rising demand for jute by modernizing processing techniques, particularly with Rieter’s Elitex system.

This advancement aims to reduce the cost of wet processing treatments, particularly for jute/cotton blends.

Jute’s compatibility with wool is enhanced by treating it with substances like caustic soda or liquid ammonia, which also improve its flame resistance.

• Drawbacks and Remedies:

Despite its many benefits, jute faces challenges like poor drapability, crease resistance, brittleness, and susceptibility to microbial attack in humid conditions.

However, innovations such as enzyme treatment mitigate some of these issues. Enzyme-treated jute also exhibits an improved affinity for natural dyes, facilitating vibrant coloring.

Reactive dyeing further enhances the value of jute products by ensuring bright and durable colors.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How many jute industries are there in Bangladesh?

Bangladesh is the world’s second-largest jute producer, producing roughly 1.6 million tonnes yearly as of 2019 (FAO). The country has between 220 and 245 private jute mills, while 25 public mills are being privatized through lease arrangements.

In which season jute is cultivated?

Jute cultivation is normally done during the rainy season, with planting taking place between March and May, depending on rainfall and soil type. Harvesting normally takes place between June and September, depending on whether the crop was planted early or late.

What is the difference between white jute and tossa jute?

Tossa jute fibres are stronger, softer, and silkier than white jute, the other form of jute.