What do you actually know about the production, benefits and functions of jute? In this article I want to tell you more about the natural material, with which we have a lot of Avoid plastic waste can. Jute bag instead of plastic bag - I'll show you why!
Here is another small Table of contents about the article:
Jute origin
Jute comes from India and thrives best in hot, humid climates between 24 ° C to 35 ° C and correspondingly heavy rainfall, or high humidity. Light sandy subsoils, or clayey loams are considered ideal soils. As a final factor, the ideal growing area should be regularly flooded by high water, as the Corchorus tree quickly exhausts the fertility of the soil.
Due to these natural conditions, the Indian subcontinent is particularly suitable for jute production. However, it is also true that jute production is very labor-intensive and there is cheap labor in India and Bangladesh. In jute production in particular, there are already many traders who are committed to fair trade.
Production of jute bags
Jute is actually a term for the bast fiber of the Indian Corchorus tree and the term is now also used for related plants such as the Chinese Utilon Avicennae. What they all have in common is that they belong to the linden family. The flaxes of the Corchorus tree reach a length of up to four meters. The jute fibers are obtained from the outer skin of the plant and can be harvested every four months. The sinewy fibers are air-dried and roasted before further processing. When dried, the fibers have already taken on their characteristic brown hue. In the next step, the fibers are combed and spun.
During combing, the outer sheath is removed and the fibers are cut to the same length. They are then packaged in rolls of fabric several meters long. You can buy this fabric in this form and if you are creative, you can make your own personal jute sack. Alternatively, you can also buy a ready-made product. Most jute sacks are machine-made in large factories in India.
Why jute bag instead of plastic bag?
The jute sack is a genuine natural product. While the artificial competition becomes a burden for centuries, a jute sack can even be composted. Unlike most plastic bags, jute bags can also be used for heavy weights and sharp objects, which is why they are also used in the postal service and for transporting food. Jute bags are now also available in very unusual designs and beautiful colors, which is why they are a popular fashion and lifestyle product (see also the article Fashion from plastic waste) have become.
The jute bag is a real natural product, the fiber is cheap and grows again and again. Plastics, on the other hand, are non-biodegradable products that take at least 400 years to decompose. The Plastic waste pollutes the environment and also poses a threat to wildlife, particularly in the world's oceans. Turtles, for example, confuse jellyfish with plastic bags and eat them. Birds and fish often become entangled in plastic waste and die in agony. Every year, billions of tons of crude oil are used to produce billions of plastic bags worldwide, which could otherwise be saved for our future needs. Petroleum energy sources are known to be finite, while jute keeps growing back. Therefore, it is a very environmentally friendly and sustainable alternative.
Jute bags also have a much longer life. They are stronger and more durable, and also do not lose their luster as quickly as plastic bags do. Jute bags can be used even further, as more and more developers are turning to insulation made from recycled jute materials.
The Advantages of jute bags are thus:
- Longevity
- Very low carbon footprint
- Biodegradable and 100% compostable
- Extremely strong and tear resistant.
- Reusable and therefore environmentally friendly
- Jet bags are hip and trendy
Functions of the jute bag
Jute sacks were traditionally used as a cheap and tear-resistant means of transport. So it may come as little surprise that it was the postal system that ensured the spread of the golden fiber. As a carrier bag for everyday use, it was first in demand on a large scale in the 1970s. As a lifestyle product, the jute bag is currently experiencing something of a renaissance. With funny motifs and individual products, messages can be brought among the people. Unfortunately, a topic such as environmental protection and waste avoidance in particular are all too often addressed with a raised forefinger.
Many people may be put off by this. Therefore, it is worthwhile to set a positive example and create awareness in a casual way with a fashionable and naturally environmentally conscious bag.
Jute bag as protection against cold for plants
If you want to winterize plants, you can also count on jute. The sacks, which were made for transporting heavy goods, can be used as planting sacks to give plants a second lease of life. The bag is simply filled with nutrient-rich soil and the plant is then planted. As the fibers are water-permeable, there is no need to cut a hole in the bag to allow water to drain away. For the same reason, however, you should use a tray as a saucer if you want to leave the plant on a patio and don't want any unsightly stains. To achieve optimum protection from the cold, tie the opening of the jute sack to the trunk of the plant.
There are also fun facts about jute bags that will surprise you. Animal keepers raise kangaroo babies in them when their mothers abandon them. The little kangaroos can be carried in the sacks as if they were in a kangaroo pouch, and the fibers are especially good for keeping the animals' body temperature.
Jute care
An important point in order to be able to use the jute bag for as long as possible is, of course, careful handling. The most problematic moment with a jute bag, or clothing made from the golden fiber, is the washing cycle. Clothes should always be bought slightly larger, as the fibers contract noticeably during washing. Experience has shown that you can expect to go up two dress sizes.
Of course, you can also wash jute. However, at most at 40°C and preferably in a gentle program, for delicates or wool. Use for it but gladly your self-righteous detergent. A very important point is also that you should definitely dry jute products in the fresh air. The fibers can store moisture very well. For this reason, if the products are stored in a damp state, there is a risk that the rotting process will begin.
Jute for crafts and painting
Acrylic paints are best for painting, as they are easy to apply and stick well. However, you should always put a piece of cardboard in between, otherwise the paint will bleed through. If you have the problem that the fibers are very frayed, you can smooth the surface with a razor so that the paint adheres well. If you are specifically looking for a jute bag for creative design, tightly woven surfaces are ideal. If, on the other hand, you would rather use embroidery for embellishment, a looser weave is an advantage.
Very fine motifs are very difficult to draw due to the fiber structure. Speech bubbles, words or even more expansive motifs, such as a sun or clouds, are ideal. Of course, such individually designed bags are an ideal gift, because it is much more personal than a ready-bought assembly line goods.
Jute clothing
In addition to the well-known sacks, there are also numerous other products made from the fiber of the Corchorus tree. Historically, in the 17th century, Europeans made ropes and even sails from the Indian fiber. In India itself, it was mostly a raw material for the clothing of the rural population. The sustainable fashion from jute even managed a comeback in the present, but rather as a niche product. In addition to the already mentioned advantages from an ecological point of view, there are definitely practical reasons to try out jute clothing. The properties such as tear resistance, stability and not least the heat-storing ability of the natural material, offer some reasons to just try it once.
More and more stores in trendy neighborhoods of big cities are also discovering that clothing made from natural fibers is much more than a legacy of the hippie movement. Even if you don't live in a lively neighborhood in Vienna or Berlin, you can order just about anything online, from dresses to t-shirts, made with jute fibers.
Jute and jute bags are versatile!
Jute bags are both a fashionable and practical alternative to plastic bags. They are characterized by their enormous tear resistance and long durability. In addition, the fiber of the Corchorus tree grows back naturally, whereas plastic is known to pollute our environment for several hundred years. There are no limits to creativity. As a carrier bag, it can be individually designed and decorated with funny or thought-provoking motifs. Jute bags that are no longer used for transportation can be used as winter protection for plants or even as insulating material in ecological house construction. The sacks can be individually designed.
In my experience, acrylic paints are particularly suitable for painting. When buying the fabric or the bag, you should already know approximately what you plan to do with it. If the fabric is rather widely woven, you should change the brush for the needle, because it is much better suited for embroidery.
Have you had any experiences with jute or do you have any questions or suggestions? Then write me a comment!
Many greetings,
Lisa
PS: In the article Zero Waste Lifestyle you get many more tips for a natural life without much garbage!
