is a natural fibre obtained as an extract from the bark of

However, the advent of jute as a commercial commodity dates back to the end of the 18^th century. Initially, the jute fibre was made into ropes that were extensively used in the wind and hand driven sea vessels and ships.  Later, jute was learnt to have been spun and woven for manufacture of carpets.

By 1838 newer technologies emerged and jute fibre was spun into better yarn and woven to make jute-cloth. Sacking bags and jute hand-bags were the initial developments and with that jute products started to enter the daily lives of people. Applications in carpet making and packaging has also been dominated by jute ever since jute started to be woven into fabric form.

Since the middle of the last century some other properties of jute fibre started to emerge. It appeared then, that jute fibre and its subsequent processing might find application in new areas of use and also newer products for consumers. Assimilation of such thoughts was under way perhaps sometime in the eighties. Thereafter, the Indian Government assisted by the United Nations Development Programme mooted action on research finding and took up new research initiation with this fibre and its end use applicability. As a result of this initiation more and more application areas of jute started to come to light.This further resulted in finding possibilities for end use products made of jute and jute blends.

Cultivation of jute too plays an important role. As the stem is cut during havesting a major portion of the root remains within the soil.  This in due course decomposes and disappears into the soil. Through this process of bio-degradation it enriches the soil by way of providing natural manure for other subsequent crops to be grown there.

In countries like India, petrochemical products especially plastic carry bags has come as a menace to municipalities. Indiscriminate use of carry-bags made of plastic has wrecked havoc on the environmental front. Soil pollution, visual pollution, choking of drains, blocking natural water streams has all added to the plunder. This has compelled civic authorities to ban this indiscriminate use of plastics and look for congenial resources like jute. Jute bags and paper bags are thus gaining popularity for a good cause. The alternative may not come as cheap as its plastic counter part, but the price paid will still be cheap for the cost of saving to the environment.

Jute products have a good market, domestic (in India) as well as in foreign countries like USA, U.K., Germany, Australia, Middle-east.  The products generally in demand in these countries are jute shopping bags, wall hangings and floor coverings. While new markets are under exploration through consumer awareness and product promotion it will not be surprising to find this natural fibre product become a much of the material for regular use by consumers all over the world.

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