Our Academy
Jacky Zhou
Apri 17, 2025
As environmental awareness continues to grow, jute bags are becoming a popular and eco-friendly alternative to plastic bags. With their natural, biodegradable, and sustainable qualities, they are ideal for people looking to reduce plastic waste. But how exactly are these bags made? How does a simple burlap or hessian bag travel from the fields to our daily lives? In this article, we will explore the complete jute bag making process, from cultivation to packaging, and reveal the green production chain behind it.
Jute is a natural fiber commonly used in making jute products such as jute bags, ropes, and cloth. As a renewable, biodegradable, and recyclable resource, it plays a key role in today’s eco-friendly product trends and jute manufacturing industries.
Jute fibers are mainly harvested from the stems of jute plants, scientifically named Corchorus olitorius and Corchorus capsularis. These plants belong to the Tiliaceae family and thrive in warm, humid climates—particularly in regions like India, Bangladesh, and parts of China.
Typically, jute plants mature in about 4 to 6 months and can grow up to 3 to 4 meters tall. After harvesting, the stems undergo several essential steps in the jute making process, including retting, stripping, washing, and drying, to extract the strong, flexible fibers that are later used in how to make jute bags and other burlap products.
The process of jute manufacturing is not just an industrial activity—it’s also an eco-conscious choice. From fiber extraction to spinning and weaving, and then to dyeing and stitching, every step in the jute making process uses minimal chemicals, generates low carbon emissions, and consumes very little energy, making it highly friendly to the environment.
By combining traditional craftsmanship with modern production techniques, jute products such as burlap bags, hessian sacks, and other jute fabric items offer excellent strength, long durability, and a natural aesthetic. These features make them ideal for a wide range of applications including tote bags, packaging bags, gift bags, and office storage items.
Jute is known for being environmentally friendly. It is biodegradable and can break down naturally after use without harming the environment. Jute bags help reduce the use of plastic bags and support sustainable environmental goals. While PE coating is less eco-friendly than raw jute, it greatly extends the bag’s lifespan and helps reduce waste and pollution.
Jute has a low environmental impact during cultivation. It requires much less water, pesticides, and herbicides compared to crops like cotton. Jute plants also improve soil fertility, support healthy crop rotation, and promote sustainable farming practices. This makes jute manufacturing a greener choice from the very start of the process.
Jute plants are excellent at absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere—more than many other plants. As a result, growing jute helps lower greenhouse gas levels and contributes to reducing the impact of climate change.
Jute farming and processing provide jobs for millions of people in developing countries. This helps drive local economies and reduce poverty. The jute industry plays an important role in rural communities by offering stable income and opportunities.
Jute bags are very durable and can be reused for years—up to 4 years with proper care. By replacing disposable plastic bags, they help reduce waste and support sustainable consumption. Even after they’re no longer used as shopping bags, jute bags can be repurposed or recycled for other uses.
Jute is a naturally strong fiber. Burlap bags made from jute can carry heavy items with ease, making them perfect for shopping, gifting, or other everyday uses. The strength of jute fabric adds to its long-lasting value.
Uncoated jute bags maintain the natural breathability of jute fibers. This makes them a great option for storing food, clothes, or other items that need air circulation. Breathable jute bags help reduce odors and keep contents fresh.
Hessian or burlap bags have a natural, rustic texture that gives them a countryside charm. They’re perfect for stylish shopping bags or decorative home items. Their earthy look is especially loved by eco-conscious consumers.
Jute bags are easy to print and customize, making them a great option for branding and promotions. Whether coated or uncoated, custom jute bags can feature logos, slogans, or personal designs to boost brand visibility and recognition.
Jute bags are highly versatile. They can be used as shopping bags, tote bags, backpacks, or promotional gifts. Today, jute bag making often includes combinations with other materials like non-woven fabric or canvas, giving them a modern and stylish touch. These updated designs attract eco-minded customers who also care about fashion and function.
Compared to plastic or lightweight materials, jute bags are heavier. This added weight makes them sturdier and gives them a premium feel. The natural thickness and weight of jute fabric bring a sense of quality and durability. Jute bags are ideal for carrying heavy items and also add a touch of rustic elegance. Their texture and feel appeal to consumers who love natural and eco-conscious design.
Even after being discarded, jute fibers can be reused in gardening. Old jute bags can be turned into plant containers or pot liners, helping with airflow and drainage. This repurposing reduces waste and supports healthy plant growth using fully natural materials.
Jute is an annual herbaceous plant and one of the most important natural fibers used globally today. It is widely cultivated in India, Bangladesh, and parts of China, and is known for being a key raw material in jute manufacturing and making jute products. Its botanical names are Corchorus olitorius and Corchorus capsularis, and it belongs to the Tiliaceae family.
Jute grows quickly and matures in just 4 to 6 months after sowing. It thrives in humid conditions, produces high yields, and requires minimal soil fertility—making it ideal for sustainable materials. It is often used in jute bag making, burlap production, and how hessian is made.
Jute is typically planted during the monsoon season in alluvial soil rich in organic matter. Crop rotation with rice is common to improve soil fertility and reduce the risk of pests. Seeds are broadcast directly into the field, and after sprouting, the plants are thinned and maintained. With a short growth cycle and low dependence on fertilizers or pesticides, jute is seen as a truly eco-friendly crop.
As the jute plants reach the flowering stage, the fibers inside the stalks become fully developed. The stalks turn light yellow to brown, and this is the ideal time for harvesting to ensure strong, shiny, and long fibers. Harvesting is mostly done by hand, using sickles to cut the entire plant from the base. This careful method keeps the stalk intact, which is important for the next step in the jute making process—retting.
After harvesting, jute stalks are bundled and transported to a water source for initial treatment. This stage is the first step in how burlap is made, and while the technique is relatively simple, it plays a crucial role in determining the fiber’s quality for all later stages of jute bag production.
After harvesting, the jute stalks move into the next critical stage in the jute making process — retting and fiber extraction. This step is essential for turning raw plant material into spinnable natural fibers and directly impacts the strength, softness, and appearance of all jute products.
In major jute-producing regions, the most common technique is water retting. Bundles of harvested jute stalks are submerged in ponds, slow-moving rivers, or canals for 7 to 20 days, depending on conditions. During this time, naturally occurring microorganisms like bacteria and fungi break down the pectin and lignin in the stalks. This helps loosen the outer fiber from the woody core (also known as the hurd).
The duration of retting varies based on water temperature, flow, and quality—factors that also influence the final fiber quality. Once retting is complete, workers remove the jute from the water and allow it to dry to an ideal moisture level before beginning stripping, the manual process of separating fiber from the stalk. This often involves beating, peeling, or pulling the loosened fiber from the plant.
Next, the extracted fibers go through cleaning, de-gumming, and sun drying. In some cases, they are also sorted by color, length, and luster as part of an early grading process in jute bag making or other burlap manufacturing workflows.
Traditionally, this entire process is labor-intensive and mostly done by hand—especially in smallholder farms or local cooperatives. However, in export-driven or industrial-scale operations, mechanical retting and fiber separation machines are increasingly used to improve efficiency and reduce fiber loss.
As the vital link between farming and industrial production, retting and fiber extraction determine whether the raw material is ready for the next stages of jute manufacturing. Although the technique is centuries old, it remains an irreplaceable part of the global jute industry and the foundation for all jute bag production and burlap products.
Once the retting and fiber extraction steps are complete, jute fibers move into a more industrialized phase of processing: spinning and weaving. This stage is the closest to traditional textile manufacturing within the jute bag making process, and is typically carried out in medium to large-scale jute mills or professional weaving workshops.
Before entering the spinning machines, the dried jute fibers need to be softened. This is usually done using softening machines that spray a mixture of water and a small amount of plant-based oil onto the fibers. This makes the jute more flexible and easier to process.
Next comes carding. In this step, the softened fibers are straightened, separated, and cleaned using carding machines. The result is a loose, continuous fiber web known as a sliver, which serves as the direct raw material for spinning.
During the spinning process, the slivers are drawn and twisted to form coarse semi-finished yarn (roving), which is then fine-spun into finished jute yarn. The thickness (yarn count) and twist level of the yarn determine the texture and strength of the jute fabric. Finished yarn is wound onto bobbins or cones and prepared for the weaving process.
Most jute weaving uses either plain weave or twill weave patterns, and can be done using manual looms or modern power looms. The interlaced warp and weft yarns form the base material known as jute greige fabric, which is the foundation for later processes such as dyeing, laminating, printing, and sewing.
This is how burlap or hessian cloth—commonly used in jute manufacturing—is created. Although spinning and weaving are considered intermediate steps in the jute making process, they play a decisive role in determining the efficiency and overall quality of the final jute bags and jute products.
Natural jute fabric usually comes in golden-yellow or brown tones with a raw, earthy texture. Most burlap bags are left undyed, making them perfect for minimalist designs or eco-friendly packaging. However, when brand identity or visual appeal is important, the fabric can be dyed in various colors as needed.
For standard color requirements, most manufacturers offer a predefined color swatch book with in-stock options. These ready-made colors are ideal for small orders or quick delivery and usually require no minimum order quantity. If a client needs a custom Pantone-matched color, a certain MOQ is typically required for made-to-order dyeing.
The dyeing process often uses eco-friendly, water-based dyes. The fabric is dipped and treated to lock in color, ensuring evenness, durability, and compliance with sustainability standards.
To add graphics, brand logos, or artwork to the bags, manufacturers apply screen printing or digital printing on the dyed jute fabric. Screen printing is best for bulk orders with repetitive designs, offering thick, vibrant layers at a lower cost. Digital printing is more suitable for complex patterns or small batch orders, delivering sharp detail without plate setup fees.
As a key part of the jute bag making process, dyeing and printing enhance the visual value of the bag and make it highly suitable for branding, promotions, gifting, or retail use.
In the jute bag making process, lamination is an optional but highly important step. It improves the durability, functionality, and printability of the jute fabric. Lamination usually involves heat-bonding a transparent LDPE film to the back of the jute cloth, making it more moisture-resistant, stain-resistant, and wrinkle-resistant.
Most laminated jute shopping bags go through this treatment to give the bag better shape, support, and resistance to wear and tear. However, for softer bags like drawstring pouches, wine bags, or gift sacks, lamination is often skipped to retain the fabric’s natural look and flexible texture.
The shaping of custom jute bags begins with cutting. Based on the bag’s design and size, the jute fabric is precisely cut into panels. This process is usually handled by experienced cutters using paper templates or digital layout systems to ensure accuracy and reduce material waste.
Once cut, the fabric panels move to the sewing stage. Skilled workers stitch the parts together according to production samples. Due to the firm texture of jute, double stitching or edge binding is often used to enhance strength. The handles and stress points are reinforced, and the thread is carefully selected to match the jute fabric in both color and durability.
After sewing, each batch of jute bags goes through a quality control check. Inspectors examine each bag by trimming excess threads, removing dust or fiber scraps, and picking out products with printing errors or poor stitching. Only bags that meet the standard will move on to packaging.
The approved bags are packed according to customer requirements, neatly stacked, and made ready for shipment. This ensures that every bag delivered meets expectations in both appearance and quality.
From jute cultivation and harvesting, to fiber extraction, spinning, weaving, cutting, stitching, printing, and final quality control and packaging, every step in jute bag manufacturing reflects careful craftsmanship and dedication. A jute bag is more than just a product—it represents a commitment to a sustainable lifestyle.
Unlike single-use plastic bags, jute bags are biodegradable, reusable, and environmentally friendly. They are not only practical and stylish, but also help reduce environmental impact. Choosing a jute bag means choosing to support a green, responsible supply chain.
Whether you’re sourcing bags for shopping, brand promotions, or eco-conscious initiatives, jute bags are the perfect balance of functionality and sustainability. At Yanxin Bag, we specialize in custom jute bag production, offering a full range of customization options including style, size, color, and logo printing to help businesses create bags that truly reflect their brand identity.
As a trusted custom jute bag manufacturer and reliable jute bag factory, we provide high-quality products and personalized service to clients worldwide.
Contact Yanxin Bag today for a free design consultation and sample. Let’s create your brand’s signature eco-friendly jute bags together!
Learn about jute and its environmental benefits on the Wikipedia Jute article.
Find a comprehensive guide on jute fabric, including types and uses at Treasurie.
Learn about the properties, advantages, and uses of jute fromJute Guru
Learn about jute and its environmental benefits on the Wikipedia Jute article.
Find a comprehensive guide on jute fabric, including types and uses at Treasurie.
Australian Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water: Learn about Australia’s policies on reducing plastic waste and promoting reusable bags on the department’s website.
Learn about the properties, advantages, and uses of jute fromJute Guru
Q1: What is jute, and why is it used to make eco-friendly jute bags?
Answer: Jute is a natural, plant-based fiber derived from the stalks of the Corchorus plant species. It is widely used in jute bag manufacturing because it is biodegradable, renewable, durable, and requires minimal use of water or pesticides during cultivation—making it ideal for eco-friendly bags, reusable shopping bags, and sustainable packaging solutions.
Q2: What is the typical process of making a jute bag from scratch?
Answer: The jute bag making process involves several key steps: jute cultivation and harvesting, retting and fiber extraction, spinning the fiber into yarn, weaving the yarn into burlap or hessian fabric, and then dyeing, laminating, printing, cutting, stitching, and final quality control and packaging. Each stage plays a vital role in creating high-quality custom jute bags.
Q3: How long can a jute shopping bag last with regular use?
Answer: Jute shopping bags are highly durable and can last anywhere from 2 to 4 years with proper care. Their strength and reusability make them an ideal alternative to single-use plastic bags, reducing landfill waste and supporting sustainable living.
Q4: Can jute bags be customized for business branding or events?
Answer: Custom jute bags are widely used for corporate branding, promotional giveaways, and events. Businesses can print logos, messages, or designs using screen printing or digital printing, making jute promotional bags both practical and visually appealing for marketing.
Q5: Are jute bags biodegradable and compostable?
Answer: Yes, jute bags are made from 100% natural fiber, making them biodegradable and compostable. After disposal, they decompose within a few months, unlike plastic bags that may take hundreds of years to break down.
Q6: What is the difference between jute, burlap, and hessian?
Answer: All three terms—jute, burlap, and hessian—often refer to the same material made from jute fibers. “Burlap” is commonly used in North America, while “hessian” is the term used in the UK and Commonwealth countries. They are used interchangeably in jute bag production.
Q7: Can laminated jute bags still be considered eco-friendly?
Answer: While lamination adds a thin plastic layer, laminated jute bags are still far more eco-friendly than plastic bags due to their durability and reusability. They reduce the need for frequent replacements and align with sustainable packaging goals.
Q8: Are jute bags washable and easy to maintain?
Answer: Non-laminated jute bags can be gently spot cleaned with mild soap and water but should not be machine washed. Laminated jute bags are easier to wipe clean and offer better moisture resistance, making them low-maintenance for everyday use.
Q9: What makes jute bags better for the environment compared to cotton or plastic bags?
Answer: Jute requires significantly less water, pesticides, and land than cotton, and it absorbs more CO₂, helping to combat climate change. Unlike plastic bags, jute bags are biodegradable, reusable, and support sustainable agriculture, making them a superior choice for eco-conscious consumers.
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Order or no-order we are Always here to help you!
We will contact you within 1 working day, please pay attention to the email with the suffix “@yanxinbag.com”.