In Bengal, India (now Bangladesh), they cultivated jute since ancient times [1]. Jute dates back to biblical times and was probably the fibre used in sackcloth [2]. Exports of raw jute from the Indian subcontinent to the western hemisphere began in the 1790s. Until 1822, they used jute fibre for cable manufacturing when commercial wire manufacturing began in Dundee, Scotland, which became the industry’s centre. India’s industry started in 1855, and Calcutta became its centre [1].
Jute is a stem fibre [2]. The fibre is short and brittle, making jute one of the weakest natural fibres. Jute is creamy white to brown. When removed from the stalk, it is soft, shiny and smooth but quickly turns brown, weak and brittle.
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Jute grows best in well-drained, sandy clay soil [1] in tropical environments with high humidity [3]. Jute does not require much fertilizer and pesticides when growing.
Jute grows naturally in Asia, mainly in India and Bangladesh [2]. About 95% of all jute grows in these countries [3]. In addition to the Indian subcontinent, jute grows in China and Brazil [1].
Jute has good insulation and antistatic properties [3]. However, it has low thermal capacity and mediocre moisture retention. Jute has poor elasticity, is fragile and can split and unravel [2]. It also has low resistance to sunlight, poor colour fastness, and deteriorates in contact with water.
An everyday use of jute is in sack making [3], but it is also used in carpets, ropes and cordage [2]. Better quality jute sacks are called burlap or hessian and are used to transport food, animal feed and other agricultural goods [1]. Jute can be used in reinforced plastics and replace wood in pulp and paper [3]. We can also use jute for clothing, such as hiking shorts [2].
We can blend jute with other fibres and materials and form the composition only with jute [3]. If treated with caustic soda, we can blend jute with wool, which improves flexibility and allows us to spin jute with wool. As jute is biodegradable, it is favourable to use jute instead of synthetic materials, which do not degrade, as in geotextiles. Jute is described as an environmentally friendly fibre, as it is biodegradable and recyclable. Growing jute in crop rotation enriches soil fertility for the future harvest.
Sources
- Encyclopedia Britannica – Jute
- Pearson – Textiles, Pearson New International Edition, 11th edition
- Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) – Future Jute
September 2020, TÄNKOM | Revised May 2024 RETHINK
