Diversified Jute Products

How jute is being made into shopping bags, carpets, home furnishings and geotextiles, and whether diversification can reduce dependence on gunny bags.

Jute can be more than sacks.

Products

Shopping bags and totes.
Carpets and rugs.
Home furnishings.
Jute geotextiles for roads and erosion control.

Exports

Diversified jute products are exported to Europe and the US.

Support

The National Jute Board promotes diversified products and design.

Challenges

Small scale.
Competition from Bangladesh.
Design and marketing skills.

Economics

Higher-value products earn more per kilo of fibre.

The jute tote

A small unit in Kolkata makes printed jute tote bags for European supermarkets.

Thinking jute is only for sacks

It's used in bags, carpets and geotextiles.

Key takeaways

Jute is made into bags, carpets and geotextiles.
Diversified products are exported.
The National Jute Board promotes them.
Scale and design are challenges.