Scientists in Bangladesh have developed a method to convert Jute fibre into low-cost bio-degradable cellulose sheets named ‘Sonali’ which can be used as wrapping material and carrying bag.
Mubarak Ahmad Khan, the scientific adviser to the state-run Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation (BJMC) and leader of the team that developed the new ‘Sonali’, says that the physical qualities of the invented jute fibre and plastic are quite similar.
The Eco-friendly jute poly bags made up of Sonali can be used in garments and food packaging work and they are not harmful for human health.
The commercial production of these bags is likely to start by the year-end. Government of Bangladesh has approved 9 lakh dollars in April this year from its climate change fund to help in large-scale production of these bags.
The main challenge in the large scale adoption of Sonali sheet is the relatively high cost of production which is almost double that of polythene. However, production on a large scale is expected to bring down the cost.