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When factors such as reusability, sustainability as well as carbon and water footprints are considered, jute performs the best in every category, making it the most socially-responsible and ecologically-friendly alternative in reusable bags, as outlined in the table below:

One of the key ecological benefits of our bags is their reusability.  With a life of approximately 3-4 years, each bag replaces the need for around 600 bags, which in turn stops the production of over 10KG of Co2.  Jutexpo has sold more than 25 million bags, thereby playing a huge part in the drive to reduce landfill waste.

Unlike plastic, jute is a sustainable natural product, and in terms of production is the second most important natural fibre in the world. The growing process is predominately manual.  Requiring very little help to grow, it is used in a crop rotation system with rice/vegetables, providing the farmers with a profitable crop all year round.  All of the plant it used – the leaves for food, the husk for firewood, and the pith to make the fibre.

-       - the jute industry in India, the biggest in the world, provides direct employment to about 0.26 million workers and supports the livelihood of around 4 million farm families.
– it is estimated that there is enough jute in the world to provide everyone with 2 jute bags.

Detailed carbon footprint models have confirmed jute bags as having one of the lowest carbon footprints of all available reusable bags, largely due to the manual processes involved in their production.  For example, reusable polypropylene bags (eg ‘Bag for Life’) have a footprint that is 2-3 times larger than a jute bags, and cotton’s is 3-4 times larger.  As part of the JP Morgan Climate Care initiative, (www.jpmorganclimatecare.com), we offset our carbon footprint, which covers all emissions from farm to final customer, by helping fund renewable energy and energy-efficient projects.  This means all our bags are carbon neutral. 

The water footprint is one of the most impressive environmental aspects of our bags.  Jute has one of the lowest water footprints of any materials used in reusable bags as it is one of the lowest users of fertilisers, is largely red-fed and does not rely on irrigation.  Unlike bleached and dyed cotton, jute is untreated in its natural state.