Jute Wants a Share of the Fame and Fortune

Jute is another great material for eco conscious consumers. It is also extremely under-appreciated. Cotton takes most of the fame and fortune for the natural fiber materials. However, most people have never even heard of jute. Why is jute such an eco friendly material?

Jute is a fabric that we call "burlap" in North America. Burlap bags are actually made from Jute. They are typically long strands of fibers that are naturally woven together. Jute is a natural plant fiber. It is also one of the cheapest natural plant fibers available on the market, currently. The only natural fiber that is produced more than jute is cotton.

Another fiber that is very similar to jute is hemp. Most people have seen hemp jewelry, which is very popular. Jute is grown in a very warm and moist climate. So, it is not surprising that a country like India is the number one exporter for jute. The monsoon seasons that occur there. People produce jute in countries like India after harvesting the plant. They will take the fibers from the stalk of the plant and after ripping the fibers from the stalk, they will produce the end result: the fabric.

This fabric is then used to produce a number of textile items. Manufacturers now are using jute to produce stylish tote bags that are eco friendly. They are very durable and becoming quite popular. In Europe, people refer to them as "Gunny Sacks." In America, people refer to them, simply as jute tote bags. They look like a burlap sack, but they can be imprinted with lettering or images. Some manufactures also add other materials such as a cotton trim to add style and appeal.

Jute material is eco friendly because it is a natural fiber, it is reusable and durable, and it is biodegradable. These are the marks for a great eco friendly material.

The Eco Friendly Cotton Material

There's a lot of "eco friendly" hype out there. A lot of people are claiming to be eco friendly for a number of different reasons. How are we supposed to know who really is eco friendly? What makes a material eco friendly? In my opinion, I would have to say an eco friendly material is one that is not affecting the environment. This means it does not affect the wild life, and it does not affect us, humans, as well.

When I mention the word "materials," I am referring to the fabrics that are used to manufacture all sorts of consumer products such as clothing and accessories, etc.

The differences between materials in regards to them being eco friendly depends on how the fabrics are made. One factor that really affects how they are made is where the fabric is manufactured in the world. Fabrics that are made in the USA are typically more eco friendly because of the strict regulations and guidelines that the government has imposed on manufacturers. These guidelines include regulations such as the methods and chemicals used during the dying process when the cotton is turned into different colors, as well as the imprinting of the material, which would include chemicals from the inks. Also, there are always chemicals used for clean-up which can be hazardous for the environment. Other countries may have very little or no regulations as to the processes and chemicals used in fabric manufacturing.

Now, to the material. The material is a very large part in consideration of how eco friendly a fabric actually is. In my opinion, cotton fabric is the most eco friendly material out there. Just a few reasons why I believe cotton to be the most eco friendly material:

Natural Fiber
Cotton is a naturally growing fiber. There is no need to mix chemicals to make a plastic. Cotton is already readily available in our environment. So, why not use it as a natural resource? We are actually using a natural resource that can be grown and harvested to manufacture fabrics

Reusable
After the fabric is manufactured and sewn into the final product, it can be reused over and over again because it is a durable material. For example, cotton in your clothing is a very comfortable cloth, and you probably will wear a cotton shirt hundreds of times before it wears out. Another example is cotton bags. Bags can be reused over multiple times before ever showing a sign of wear. Plastic bags however have a very limited life-span, and usually once they have been used once, they are thrown away.

Biodegradable
Once someone is finished using this material (typically years after it has been manufactured), the fabric will break down easily to it's original state of waste in the ground.

Cotton is a natural fiber, a reusable fiber, and it is also a biodegradable material. So, in my opinion, cotton is the the most eco friendly fabric available on the market right now. Also, to make the cotton even more eco friendly, it is made in the USA.