For manufacturing the parent B. Twill sacking product, Jute industry has tried to introduce high productive shuttle-less rapier looms in last couple of years and gradually phasing out the age old low productive shuttle looms (1.5-2 times less productive) with the help of the Government incentives. As there is no viable alternative which can effectively utilize the waste generated during the efficient new process, 100% conversion to shuttle-less looms is not happening.
It is estimated that annually around 31 thousand tons of root cuttings, 62 thousand tons of average to poor grade fibre, and 43 thousand tons of other wastes are presently being utilized in conventional looms for making gunny bags which need alternative ways for making technical textile products having bulk demand. Besides this, jute industry also produces around 55 thousand tons of waste annually in the form of caddies which is being partially consumed as boiler fuel having very little commercial value. Innovations on these raw materials will help significantly to increase product mix of jute industry, reducing its over dependency on sacking bags production in turn keeping a control on jute bag price.
Indian jute sector can only proliferate if bulk share of raw jute and jute wastes get utilized to manufacture commercially viable technical textile products beyond sacking, using the concept of “More from Less” which will be beneficial for farmers, industry and Government bodies beside creating industrial growth in the rural sector.
With this goal, IJIRA has been working on identifying possible areas to be focused for research and development work where market requirement is such that the bulk of jute fibre and wastes can find alternative avenues.
For example, IJIRA has developed organic hybrid low cost agromulch using jute caddies and other agrowastes which has already adopted by Industry and attracted export orders from western world.
Similarly, it has been planned to effectively use jute and other agro wastes to produce cost effective natural sustainable geotextiles like erosion control blankets and logs for effective control of soil erosion in varied rain and hill slope condition through proper technology development.
Moreover, IJIRA has successfully developed jute based composites in making auto-components like parcel shelf etc. This attempt of IJIRA has created interest among the OEMs to set up industry in the rural sector through utilization of jute agro waste such as jute stick and caddies.
In nut shell, IJIRA’s innovations on effective utilization of Jute waste to manufacture technical textiles such as agrotextiles, geotextiles, auto interior parts, composites etc. through textile processes such as stitch bonding, needle punched nonwoven, composite making processes etc. will ensure diversification of the jute industry as a step forward to circular economy and aim to fulfill India’s Sustainable Developmental Goal (SDGs).