GOLDEN FIBRE

Joydeep Majumder

Today, as fast as we are running towards modernization, the more we are getting perplexed and creating hurdles for our future. Let me make myself a little clearer. Due to express pace of our lifestyle, we are thriving towards readymade, readily available materials in our daily use. Starting from toothbrush, pen, home appliances, dress materials, mattresses to toys, carry bags even food packets are all made up of plastic. Just let us forget whether they are food grade or quality materials or not, but undoubtedly they are non-biodegradable substances. Can these really initiate our footsteps ahead or literally they are jamming our future! In very little time we need to change our perspective and adopt alternative solutions and take it as a strict enforcement. Jute, the golden fibre, has an edge over expensive fibres due to its biodegradable character and availability at a comparatively low price. Today, jute is looked upon not only as a major textile fibre, but also as a raw material for manufacturing products, which help protect the environment and maintain the ecological balance. Sources reveal that India is the worlds largest and biggest producer of raw jute and jute goods with an average production of over 1600 thousand tonnes of jute goods per annum. Indian export about 200 thousand tonnes of jute and jute products, globally. This information is not to let ourselves increase our general knowledge but create an awareness of uses of jute products and its benefits in the long run. Though use of jute is still very restricted and not in the limelight, may be due to lack of our knowledge, propaganda or even ignorance. Jute composites may be used in everyday applications such as lampshades, suitcases, paperweights, helmets, shower and bath units. They are also used for covers of electrical appliances, pipes, post-boxes, roof tiles, grain storage silos, surface panels for partition & false ceilings, bio-gas containers etc. With increasing emphasis on fuel efficiency, jute composites would enjoy wider applications in automobiles and railway coaches. In fact, the market segment for railway coaches in India has a vast potential, which is yet to be tapped to a significant extent. From the context of wood substitution, jute composites could be an ideal solution. With ever depleting forest reserves, a composite based on renewable resources such as jute, coir and sisal is poised to penetrate the market. As wood fibre, jute has many promising features and this would certainly maintain the global ecological balance. Thus, jute is the most environment-friendly fibre starting from the seed to expired fibre, as the expired fibres can also be recycled more than once. Geo-textiles are another area that made the golden fibre popular in the agricultural sector. It is a lightly woven fabric made from natural fibres that is used in times of natural calamities such as soil erosion control, floods, cyclones, earthquakes etc., seed protection, weed control, and many other agricultural uses.

Freelance Journalist, 174, Chowksey Nagar, DIG Square, Berasia Rd. Bhopal 462001.

While synthetic materials in many of these uses are replacing jute, some uses of jute take advantage due to its bio-degradable nature, where synthetics would be unsuitable. Examples of such uses include containers for planting young trees, which can be planted directly with the container without disturbing the roots, and land restoration where jute cloth prevents erosion, while natural vegetation becomes established. These are the uses of jute in different aspects of life, which can put back the non-biodegradable fibres. However, popularization as well as utilization of jute and its products in daily life use is still to replace other popular non-biodegradable materials. The reason being its insignificant promotion and awareness creation among the public. May be inadequate supply at the grass root level and lenient constraint of the use of synthetic materials acts as a negative channel in its plentiful usage. Accordingly, it is up to every individual to retain the free flow of our future, adopting the biodegradable golden fibre.