Jute industry in India, mostly concentrated in the then Bengal, was established during the latter part of the 19th century and prospered steadily for several decades. The development of free trade in Europe, regular sailing of merchant vessels between Europe and India, along with reduced freight rate attracted the attention of George Acland, a pioneering Scotsman who started the first jute mill in an available site at Rishra, not far from Calcutta. Also, he was the first man to import jute-spinning machinery from Dundee, as a result of which his productivity improved substantially.
However, Acland was soon superseded by Andrew Yule, another Scotsman who established several jute mills along the banks of the river Hooghly, and his products were exported to numerous European countries. However, a time soon came when either banks of the river were dotted with jute mills – all producing coarse jute products called hessian, fit for making large bags to carry cereals, sugar, etc.
During the First World War Calcutta, along with its hinterland had 38 mills with 184000 workers, which ended up ‘transforming Calcutta from a trading and financial hub into a manufacturing centre’. Some of these jute mills were linked to Thomas Duff and Co, Victoria Jute Factory Co, Samnuggur Jute Factory Co, Titaghur Jute Factory Co, Angus Co, etc. And all of them ran at profit.
However, disaster came in the shape of partition of India when most of the jute cultivating areas went into the then Pakistan, a country that declined to export raw jute to (enemy country) India. Needless to say, most of the jute mills that were so far running at a profit came to a grinding halt and the industry had to shut its door for good.
Meanwhile, the world faced a different sort of crisis that rose from pollution of the environment caused by plastic waste. Millions of tons of plastic waste comprising plastic coffee cups, plastic cutlery, plastic straw and most importantly, one-time use plastic carry bags created such a big issue that many countries banned the use of these harmful carry bags, while people searched for alternatives to carry their groceries and sundry items in a safe and secured way.
This prompted stalwarts like sponsors of Earthyy Bags who volunteered to produce eco friendly biodegradable jute and cotton bags in hundreds of designs and shapes that soon replaced the plastic bags. Additionally, Earthyy Bags produces a wide array of jute and cotton bags that practically serve all purposes ever required by man or woman and include Tote Bags, Beach bags, Bottle Bags, Tie and Dye Bags and many more. The company has become so successful in its efforts towards popularizing its product range that it has started participating in Trade Fairs in a big way. In fact, you can meet the key persons belonging to Earthyy Bags in India Big 7, International Trade Fair 2108 to be held between 22 and 25 August, 2018 at Booth No. 2551.
Jute industry in W. Bengal, no doubt has revived, though may not in its earlier crude form but in more refined form in the shape of eco friendly trendy jute carry bags that are now available in shopping malls located in most world cities such as London, Paris, New York, Rome, Rio de Janeiro, Barcelona, Moscow and others. Fashionable, yet cost effective, Earthyy Bags biodegradable products are now considered affordable, adorable and gorgeous by people all over the world .