Use of jute bags for packaging
Saturday, 26 June 2010
A front page news item on the subject was published in a daily on June 17th. This is an important matter, and I would request the expert body who are to look into the matter, to consider certain real issues on jute bag packaging, before reaching their conclusion and sending their recommendation to the parliament for passing necessary laws. There are some important deficiencies in the direct use of jute fiber that is woven into jute bags, and these disadvantages needs to be taken into consideration; before comming to any decision on the issue.
Firstly, jute bags are not water proof. Without waterproofing it, which may need a chemical treatment, thus increases the cost of water proof jute bags. Untreated bags may not be suitable for packing rice and other food grains. Long storage of these essential food items in moist jute bags can cause molds to grow resulting in spoilage and degeneration of food grains, making it unsafe and unfit for human consumption.
Sugar and salt, if stored in jute bags and subject to rain during loading transport and unloading, will dissolve these products in contact with moisture resulting in the weight loss of these items due to dissolving in water! The same thing will happen with fertilizer.
If cement is carried or stored in moist jute bags, then the cement will set, and it will be useless as cement reacts with water chemically! These matters needs to be considered before we consider the use of jute bags. It may be quite possible to make jute fibers waterproof. But will this be cost-effective in comparison to waterproof bags of other artificial chemical fibres? These are now being used in manufacturing 'paper bags', as we call it today which are waterproof.
Given the recent discovery of the possibility of modifying DNA of jute cells; it may be possible through further research and development to have water proofing genes introduced in the jute cell. This can then enable us to produce water proof jute fiber which will remove most of the disadvantages of jute bags used for packing. Till such time, the scope of jute bags as general packing material is somewhat limited!
Engr.S.A.Mansoor
Dhaka.
E-mail : sam07@dhakacom.com
Firstly, jute bags are not water proof. Without waterproofing it, which may need a chemical treatment, thus increases the cost of water proof jute bags. Untreated bags may not be suitable for packing rice and other food grains. Long storage of these essential food items in moist jute bags can cause molds to grow resulting in spoilage and degeneration of food grains, making it unsafe and unfit for human consumption.
Sugar and salt, if stored in jute bags and subject to rain during loading transport and unloading, will dissolve these products in contact with moisture resulting in the weight loss of these items due to dissolving in water! The same thing will happen with fertilizer.
If cement is carried or stored in moist jute bags, then the cement will set, and it will be useless as cement reacts with water chemically! These matters needs to be considered before we consider the use of jute bags. It may be quite possible to make jute fibers waterproof. But will this be cost-effective in comparison to waterproof bags of other artificial chemical fibres? These are now being used in manufacturing 'paper bags', as we call it today which are waterproof.
Given the recent discovery of the possibility of modifying DNA of jute cells; it may be possible through further research and development to have water proofing genes introduced in the jute cell. This can then enable us to produce water proof jute fiber which will remove most of the disadvantages of jute bags used for packing. Till such time, the scope of jute bags as general packing material is somewhat limited!
Engr.S.A.Mansoor
Dhaka.
E-mail : sam07@dhakacom.com