jute

Jute is a long, soft, and glossy vegetable fiber used primarily for coarse textiles and packaging. It is obtained from the retted stems of two species, Corchorus capsularis and Corchorus olitorius, which belong to the Malvaceae family. Jute fibers are valued for their strength, high yarn strength-to-weight ratio, and natural golden-brown color.

The crop is mainly grown in the alluvial plains of the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Meghna rivers in India and Bangladesh, where climate and soil conditions support fiber quality. Smaller production occurs in China, Myanmar, and several African countries. After about four to six months, plants are harvested and the stems undergo retting (wet or dew retting) to loosen the fibers, followed by washing, drying, decortication, and processing into usable fiber.

Properties of jute fiber include good moisture absorption, breathability, biodegradability, and ease of dyeing. It is relatively inexpensive and compatible with natural fibers, making it a common material for sustainable products. Primary uses are hessian or burlap sacks, sacking, twine and rope, carpet backing, and geotextiles for erosion control and soil stabilization. Jute is also employed in composites and other green textile applications.

Environmental and economic aspects: as a renewable crop, jute supports low-input production and crop rotation, contributing to rural livelihoods in producing regions. However, retting can generate wastewater and air emissions if not properly managed, driving interest in improved retting methods and processing efficiency. The industry remains a major export and employment source for India and Bangladesh and is subject to global price fluctuations.