JUTE

In India, a substantial industry, employing millions of people, producing fine quality Jute -grown mainly around the delta of river Ganges. It is obtained from two verities of plant, CORCHORUS CAPSULARIS and CORCHORUS OLITORIUS. It is a natural bast fibre composed of Cellulose (the main building material of all plants) and is totally biodegradable. This fibre grows in the entire length of plant stalk ranging between 2-4 mtrs in length.

Harvested from July to October, the long stalks are hand cut and left to dry naturally before the leaves are removed. To extract fibre, the stalks are soaked in ponds or slow moving streams to induce fermentation process known as ‘Retting’. This process lasts for about three / four weeks after which the fibre is stripped from the core manually. 

The fibre is finally processed and weaved into fabrics in Jute mills in and around Kolkata (Calcutta). The best-known use of jute is in the form of Hessian Cloth (Burlap), Sacking and Tarpaulin. It is usually a plain weave cloth made in various widths and weights.


PAPER

According to Film and Bag Federation, a trade group within the society of Plastics Industry, Paper Bags use more energy and create more waste than plastic bags. Plastic bags require 40% less energy to produce than paper bags and cause 70% less air pollution – the group explained. Plus plastic bags release as much as 94% less waste into the water. 

Paper bags do however breakdown more quickly than plastic bags. They also don’t strangle wildlife.


PLASTICS

Since its development last century, Plastic has become a very popular material used in a vide variety of ways. Many of the items, we buy or use are of plastic or plastic wrap around. Plastic bags are everywhere. According to Virginia based American Plastic Council, 80% of groceries are packed in Plastic bags. Plastic bags can be found in landfills, stuck on trees, choking drains and floating in the ocean. 

The problem comes when we no longer want these items and need to dispose off them, particularly the throw away plastic material used in wrapping or packaging. The cheapness means plastic gets discarded easily and its long life means it survives in the environment for long periods where it can do great harm. Not only do they pollute our environment, they are responsible for deaths of many millions of unsuspecting animals and wildlife. According to experts, plastic harm the environment as plastic bags can take hundreds of years to breakdown. As they breakdown, they release poisonous materials into water and soil. 

Jute bags are not only inexpensive but when they come to the end of their usefulness, they can be composted.