Jute making cars eco-friendly
In what can be termed a remarkable usage of jute, widely known as the golden fibre, a French company called NATUP has used the product taken from Bangladesh to make car parts of top automobile marquee names like Toyota, Ford and VW.
This is an extraordinary development because jute made car parts, especially the interior sections, make the automobile eco-friendly and light weight. With the worlds top car makers constantly seeking new products to reduce carbon emissions, the answer may well be in jute from Bangladesh. Since top car manufacturers have already made several car parts from jute, its time Bangladesh begins to use golden fibre for making interiors of locally assembled vehicles plus rickshaws and auto-rickshaws. Also, a joint production plant here can be an excellent way to bring in foreign investment which is essential to increase Bangladeshs standing in the investment friendly list. Since the French company has already had success, the second step should be to hold an international jute related exhibition in Bangladesh to showcase the multifaceted use of the fibre.
With many Western nations tilting towards biodegradable products, Bangladesh has to take the initiative to be a major player in meeting global demand. A marketing strategy is essential since without proper publicity the various uses of jute will not reach far-flung countries. With the resurgence of the demand for jute across the globe, a prudent move would be to use our embassies to promote the golden fibre through slick advertising plus exhibitions. Reportedly, the French company took interest because jute items cause less environmental damage which is a huge boost for the product because eco friendly products are all the rage currently. From another angle, the government can also take steps in the country to make people aware of the huge possibilities of jute, thus attracting young entrepreneurs to explore other uses. The fact that well known car brands used the golden fibre in making their cars can be publicized so other industries take interest in using jute to make their products safer. If private banks offer special SME loans for people willing to use jute to start a business, more application of it will emerge. Also, research is needed to find if jute flowers, stalks and other parts can be used to develop medicines, beauty products and household items.
