Jute – An Environmental Threat or Opportunity?
Jute has earned the title 'The Golden Fiber' thanks to its natural lustre that remains even after processing. The finest Jute is grown on the Indian Subcontinent with India and Bangladesh the major global exporters of both Jute fiber and woven Jute products (Jute Rugs, UK). Jute is 100% bio-degradable and is often considered to be one of the most environmentally friendly crops as it has so many uses, thus reducing the impact on other, less sustainable natural resources. However, it does have some negative environmental impacts as well. The growing awareness about environment around the world in recent years is creating opportunities for the jute industry to expand and contribute positively to sustainable environment.
Earth Day is celebrated on April 22 every year to create awareness on activities leading to sustainable environment. This year different organizations are celebrating this day with different themes – all eventually creating awareness on eco-friendly and green activities that will lead to a low carbon and more sustainable earth. In the eve of the Earth Day 2011, this article sheds light on the jute industry and analyze whether it is an opportunity or threat for the environment.
Environmental Opportunities from Jute
1. Jute fiber is a totally natural biodegradable and compostable fiber obtained from the jute plant and it is therefore an extremely attractive renewable resource for those who are at the forefront of the environmental movement and those who give top priority to environmental and ecological concerns. Reusable jute bags triumph over single use paper and plastic bags. While the embodied energy of jute bags is higher, the fact that many people will use a single jute bag over several years results in it being the most eco-friendly (Krohn, David 2010). Jute bags can be recycled. When they have served their purpose, they rot and decay or can be easily burnt off. The production of polypropylene fiber, the main synthetic competitor of jute, requires 10-20 times more energy consumption than does the production of jute. So jute is an eco-friendly agricultural product.
2. The defoliated jute leaves have fertilizer value and enriches the soil nutrients. Jute leaves are used as vegetables and have nutritional as well as medicinal values. Jute sticks are used as fuel and to build shelters in jute growing rural areas. This has helped reduce the use of wood in these applications (International Jute Study Group, 2003).
3. The production flow of jute agriculture involves: sowing, weeding/thinning, harvesting, defoliation, retting, fiber extraction, washing and drying (International Jute Study Group, 2003). But only a small percentage of the farmers use seed treatment, fertilizers and herbicides/pesticides, which makes the processes before harvesting environmentally sound.
4. Jute contains cellulose like any other raw materials used for paper pulp, thus making it more biological efficient than that of wood plant. Experiments to convert jute fiber and whole jute plant into paper pulp have successfully produced good quality pulp and paper (International Jute Study Group, 2003. The growing demand of pulp and paper worldwide on a continuous basis and increase of public awareness on environmental issues have created conditions to check depletion of forest resources through using jute/kenaf for producing pulp and paper. This increasing demand for paper has led to excessive deforestation in both developed and developing countries. The restoration of the forest resources is difficult because of the relatively long growing cycle of trees. This situation will increase the competitiveness of jute as a raw material for paper pulp and the paper industry. Furthermore, using jute for pulp and paper has many advantages, like using less chemicals than in wood pulping, like chlorine; consuming less energy than traditional wood pulp due to the low lignin content of jute; using treated wastewater from jute paper mills for irrigation, etc.
5. Many of the farmers that grow jute do not use chemicals, and cultivate it in areas where it grows naturally. It is rare that a tree is cut down to plant jute in its place, and there is little chemical load placed on the soil by growing the fibers for jute bags (Jute Bags or Cotton Bags-Buyer’s Guide, January 2010).
6. Jute cleans the air. Studies indicate that, one hectare of jute plants can consume up to 15 tons of carbon dioxide and release 11 tons of oxygen during the jute growing season (about 100 days) (Natural Environment, 2008).
7. Jute Geotextile (JGT) has proven very effective at addressing various soil-related issues in the civil engineering industry (Natural Environment, 2008). JGT can be used to assist with:
* a. Protection of slopes in road and railway embankments, bridge approaches, terraces in hilly terrains, etc.
* Stabilization of sand dunes, mine spoils, etc.
* Promotion of quick vegetation in areas denuded by things like cyclones, earthquakes, landslides, etc.
* Stabilization of waste dumps.
* Prevention of reflection cracks.
* Protection of riverbanks.
* Strengthening of roads.
* Filtration.
The benefits of Jute Geotextile over other geotextiles include:
* Price - cheaper than other geotextiles (synthetic or natural)
* Easy availability and transportation
* Superior drapability • Greater moisture retention capacity
Environmental Threats From Jute
1. For the production of jute, farmers use the time-consuming conventional retting process in the ponds and rivers which hampers the quality of the jute fiber as well as pollutes the environment with large amount of biomasses decomposing in the stagnant water, thus causing environmental pollution. However, the pollution of water by retting is transitory in nature, because in a warm climate the polluted water returns to its normal condition after 30-45 days. In addition, there is an alternative method named as Ribbon retting method. It is much more convenient compared to the conventional retting process because, ribbon retting takes only ¼ the time and requires much less water (Katalyst, August 2010). In Ribbon retting, ribbons are stripped out from the stem of mature jute plants, coiled and allowed to ret under water bodies - which farmers can create artificially by digging a hole and filling it with small amount of water. This also reduces environmental pollution to a great extent. The ribbon retting method saved the farmers the cost of transporting jute to nearby water bodies as well as allowed increased quantity of jute to be retted at a time than the conventional method. So, ribbon retting is a great promise to produce high quality jute fiber in one hand and a more eco-friendly measure on the other.)
2. Processes of jute fiber extraction and washing have drawn some concerns regarding solid residue and gaseous emissions that arise from such processes (Katalyst, August 2010). Complaints about the unpleasant smell during retting are quite common. The temporary gaseous emissions and unpleasant smell do not involve any non-reversible hazard as compared to some other industries.
From the above analysis, it can be said that producing jute is proven to be very cost-effective and environment friendly. The opportunities from producing jute can have a huge positive impact on the environment. The environmental threats from producing jute can be overcome and thus turned into opportunities. Investing in jute industry can be one of the major steps towards green investment.
References
Earth Day is celebrated on April 22 every year to create awareness on activities leading to sustainable environment. This year different organizations are celebrating this day with different themes – all eventually creating awareness on eco-friendly and green activities that will lead to a low carbon and more sustainable earth. In the eve of the Earth Day 2011, this article sheds light on the jute industry and analyze whether it is an opportunity or threat for the environment.
Environmental Opportunities from Jute
1. Jute fiber is a totally natural biodegradable and compostable fiber obtained from the jute plant and it is therefore an extremely attractive renewable resource for those who are at the forefront of the environmental movement and those who give top priority to environmental and ecological concerns. Reusable jute bags triumph over single use paper and plastic bags. While the embodied energy of jute bags is higher, the fact that many people will use a single jute bag over several years results in it being the most eco-friendly (Krohn, David 2010). Jute bags can be recycled. When they have served their purpose, they rot and decay or can be easily burnt off. The production of polypropylene fiber, the main synthetic competitor of jute, requires 10-20 times more energy consumption than does the production of jute. So jute is an eco-friendly agricultural product.
2. The defoliated jute leaves have fertilizer value and enriches the soil nutrients. Jute leaves are used as vegetables and have nutritional as well as medicinal values. Jute sticks are used as fuel and to build shelters in jute growing rural areas. This has helped reduce the use of wood in these applications (International Jute Study Group, 2003).
3. The production flow of jute agriculture involves: sowing, weeding/thinning, harvesting, defoliation, retting, fiber extraction, washing and drying (International Jute Study Group, 2003). But only a small percentage of the farmers use seed treatment, fertilizers and herbicides/pesticides, which makes the processes before harvesting environmentally sound.
4. Jute contains cellulose like any other raw materials used for paper pulp, thus making it more biological efficient than that of wood plant. Experiments to convert jute fiber and whole jute plant into paper pulp have successfully produced good quality pulp and paper (International Jute Study Group, 2003. The growing demand of pulp and paper worldwide on a continuous basis and increase of public awareness on environmental issues have created conditions to check depletion of forest resources through using jute/kenaf for producing pulp and paper. This increasing demand for paper has led to excessive deforestation in both developed and developing countries. The restoration of the forest resources is difficult because of the relatively long growing cycle of trees. This situation will increase the competitiveness of jute as a raw material for paper pulp and the paper industry. Furthermore, using jute for pulp and paper has many advantages, like using less chemicals than in wood pulping, like chlorine; consuming less energy than traditional wood pulp due to the low lignin content of jute; using treated wastewater from jute paper mills for irrigation, etc.
5. Many of the farmers that grow jute do not use chemicals, and cultivate it in areas where it grows naturally. It is rare that a tree is cut down to plant jute in its place, and there is little chemical load placed on the soil by growing the fibers for jute bags (Jute Bags or Cotton Bags-Buyer’s Guide, January 2010).
6. Jute cleans the air. Studies indicate that, one hectare of jute plants can consume up to 15 tons of carbon dioxide and release 11 tons of oxygen during the jute growing season (about 100 days) (Natural Environment, 2008).
7. Jute Geotextile (JGT) has proven very effective at addressing various soil-related issues in the civil engineering industry (Natural Environment, 2008). JGT can be used to assist with:
* a. Protection of slopes in road and railway embankments, bridge approaches, terraces in hilly terrains, etc.
* Stabilization of sand dunes, mine spoils, etc.
* Promotion of quick vegetation in areas denuded by things like cyclones, earthquakes, landslides, etc.
* Stabilization of waste dumps.
* Prevention of reflection cracks.
* Protection of riverbanks.
* Strengthening of roads.
* Filtration.
The benefits of Jute Geotextile over other geotextiles include:
* Price - cheaper than other geotextiles (synthetic or natural)
* Easy availability and transportation
* Superior drapability • Greater moisture retention capacity
Environmental Threats From Jute
1. For the production of jute, farmers use the time-consuming conventional retting process in the ponds and rivers which hampers the quality of the jute fiber as well as pollutes the environment with large amount of biomasses decomposing in the stagnant water, thus causing environmental pollution. However, the pollution of water by retting is transitory in nature, because in a warm climate the polluted water returns to its normal condition after 30-45 days. In addition, there is an alternative method named as Ribbon retting method. It is much more convenient compared to the conventional retting process because, ribbon retting takes only ¼ the time and requires much less water (Katalyst, August 2010). In Ribbon retting, ribbons are stripped out from the stem of mature jute plants, coiled and allowed to ret under water bodies - which farmers can create artificially by digging a hole and filling it with small amount of water. This also reduces environmental pollution to a great extent. The ribbon retting method saved the farmers the cost of transporting jute to nearby water bodies as well as allowed increased quantity of jute to be retted at a time than the conventional method. So, ribbon retting is a great promise to produce high quality jute fiber in one hand and a more eco-friendly measure on the other.)
2. Processes of jute fiber extraction and washing have drawn some concerns regarding solid residue and gaseous emissions that arise from such processes (Katalyst, August 2010). Complaints about the unpleasant smell during retting are quite common. The temporary gaseous emissions and unpleasant smell do not involve any non-reversible hazard as compared to some other industries.
From the above analysis, it can be said that producing jute is proven to be very cost-effective and environment friendly. The opportunities from producing jute can have a huge positive impact on the environment. The environmental threats from producing jute can be overcome and thus turned into opportunities. Investing in jute industry can be one of the major steps towards green investment.
References
- Jute Rugs, viewed 12 April 2011, www.jute-rugs.co.uk
- International Jute Study Group, 2003, viewed 12 April 2011, jute.org
- Natural Environment Blog, “The Environmental Benefits of Jute”, 2008, viewed 12 April 2011, www.natural-environment.com
- Natural Environment Blog, “The Exciting Potential of Jute”, 2008, viewed 12 April 2011, www.natural-environment.com
- Krohn, David, August 2010, Viewed 12 April 2011, www.davidkrohn.net
- Williamson, Graham, “Jute Bag or Cotton Bags – Buyer’s Guide”, January 2010, viewed 20 April 2011,www.articlesbase.com
- Katalyst, August 2010, viewed 20 April 2011, www.katalyst.com.bd
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