You might be hearing a lot about jute bags lately. As the “green” push gets bigger, the demand for them grows. Why is that, though? What makes jute bags so “green” in comparison to other options? Well, let’s take a look.
What is Jute?
You can’t really understand why a jute bag is so great if you don’t know what jute is. Jute is actually a byproduct of a vegetable found in the eastern part of the world. That vegetable is harvested, and jute fibers are left behind from its inedible sections.
This produces two benefits.
First, it means that growing jute doesn’t just mean you’re growing a material. You’re also growing food that can help feed nations. It’s like killing two birds with one stone.
It also means that jute can be harvested without any real environmental impact. The crop is already there to produce food, and simply pulling out the remaining plant fiber to use for jute is a lot like removing old corn husks and stalks from cornfields after the harvest; except, jute is more useful. You’re not cutting down trees, taking up tons of agricultural land for just a material, etc.
However, jute has other benefits that aren’t derivative of it being a food source.
Minimal Processing:
Jute doesn’t require a lot of processing to be turned into string or fabric. It dries incredibly quickly on its own, and once it’s dry, it’s more or less ready to go. This prevents the jute from needing chemicals and other unnatural things from having to be introduced to the fiber for protection purposes or drying it out. As a consumer, you’ll probably enjoy knowing your jute product didn’t get soaked in a chemical bath for no reason.
This also helps lower the cost of jute products. If you can produce something with fewer steps and resources, you can keep the cost lower.
Variety of Applications:
Jute can be woven into a fine fabric suitable for clothing, bags, etc. However, it can also be turned into strong twines and ropes for a variety of purposes. Go to your local hardware store, and you can probably find jute in rolls of twine for extremely cheap.
Since it can be used for many different roles, it makes this food byproduct extremely useful in practical ways.
Water Resistant:
You don’t want to get your jute products wet, but if they do, you don’t have to worry about them falling apart. Jute bags can easily survive getting caught in a rainstorm or having a leaky water bottle spill inside of them. Some other materials can permanently discolor or outright fail when wet.
By not being weak to common sources of damage, jute bags can last incredibly long, and you don’t have to keep replacing them over every little mishap. This cuts down the need for production.
Make the Switch to Jute
Jute is sustainable. It’s part of something that already needs to be made, grows quickly, doesn’t require a ton of processing, can be used for a lot of things, and doesn’t fall apart on the first use. If you’re looking for a sustainable bag, jute bags should be what you’re looking at.
