Jute, also popularly known as BURLAP, is one of the cheapest natural fibers. It is a long, shiny vegetable fiber that can be spun into coarse, strong threads. It is produced from plants in the genus Corchorus, family Tiliaceae. It is composed primarily of cellulose, which is the main building material of all plants. The jute plant needs only rain water and very few fertilizers or pesticides to grow, making it easy and environmentally friendly to cultivate.

The jute industry supports an estimated 5 million people in the poorest regions on Earth. Jute has gained popularity recently because of its eco friendly nature.

Here are some facts that make this fiber very environmentally friendly -

• The fabric is very durable and has the life span of over thousand plastic bags. Jute is known for it’s strength.
• It is a renewable and sustainable resource.
• It is 100% biodegradable. When discarded, jute totally decomposes, returning valuable nutrients back into soil.
• It does not pollute our atmosphere as it only produces non toxic gases.
• One hectare of Jute plants consumes over 15 tons of carbon dioxide, several times higher than trees.
• Jute has gained an advantage as being an eco-friendly option instead of poly and paper bags as poly bags are made from petroleum and are non-biodegradable and manufacturing paper bags requires large quantities of wood.
• It is the cheapest natural fiber available