Feasibility Study of Jute* Products with a view to develop Ecolabel Criteria through LCA and stakeholder consultation

Jute Yarn

Jute Floor covering

www.jute.com/ecolabel
Jute Hessian Jute Geotextiles

Food Grade Jute Bag

*a natural fiber
Shopping bag

Table of Content
1. Preamble and Introduction to Jute, a natural fiber 2. Product categories 3. Stakeholder Consultation 4. Market survey of Jute 5. Suppliers of Jute 6. Life cycle environmental impacts 7. Potential for Improvement 8. Availability of data 9. Current National and International legislation and agreements

Preamble
Jute Manufactures Development Council (JMDC), Ministry of Textiles, Government of India has retained PwC Sustainable Business Solutions India to conduct the study on Life Cycle Analysis Study of Jute to develop a Ecolabel. The purpose of this ecolabel is to harness the emerging green markets in the European Union and the USA. These markets have a growing green customer base for sustainable and eco-friendly products. A type I ecolabel is envisaged that follows ISO 14024 requirements and ISO 14040 based LCA is used to frame the initial environmental criteria. As required in section 6.2 of this standard, a consultation with interested parties is needed in establishing product environmental criteria and product function characteristics. This document presents a summary of the product category proposals for ecolabel based on the feasibility study conducted.

Jute a natural fibre

Jute is one of the most versatile natural fibres having applications in packaging, textiles and non-textile sectors. Jute is predominantly a rain fed annual crop. Its cultivation is labour-intensive. Jute has a significant impact in Indias economy, providing sustenance to more than 4 million people including jute farmers, workmen, labourers and self employed artisans and weavers, especially in the Eastern and North-eastern parts of India, where it is the mainstay of the agro based industries. World over, it has been recognized that jute and allied fibres occupy a unique position as eco-friendly, bio-degradable renewable natural fibres with substantial value addition at each stage of processing. Please visit the
following websites for more information on Jute from India www.jute.com; www.jmdcindia.com.

Objectives of the consultation process

The aims and objectives of this feasibility study leading to the consultation process are: to determine, for eco-labelling purposes, the structure of the ecolabel to be established for selected six Jute products (Yarn, Hessian, Food grade jute bag, Jute geotextiles, Floor covering and shopping bag); to have a preliminary understanding of the environmental impacts that occur in the lifecycle of the recommended product group and to inform the selection of the environmental criteria. to identify specific jute product related disposal protocols in EU and USA

Product categories
A stakeholder meeting with the participating jute industry representatives was held in Februrary 2005 in Kolkata, India. Based on experience of the exporters and detailed interviews with them, the following jute product categories were proposed that could be amenable for inclusion in the ecolabel. The product categories suggested are also indicated : Jute Yarn - yarns Jute Hessian - packaging material Food grade jute bag - food grade grain packaging material jute geotextile - Geotextile Jute Floor - Floor covering Jute Shopping bag - shopping bag or carry bag

Market survey overall jute consumption trend globally

Export scenario of products of jute, keneaf and allied fibres
800 600 '000 MT 400 200 0 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 Rest of World India

World Exports of Products of Jute, Kenaf and allied fibres

800 600 Other world '000 MT 400 200 0 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 Bangladesh India

Production, Internal Consumption and Export of Indian Jute goods

Sacking 9% Others 8% Yarn 28%

2000
Geo-textiles 2% Shopping Bags 8% CBC Food Grade Bags 4% 3%

1500

Export '000 MT 1000

500 0
1998/99 2000/01 2002/03 2004/05

Hessian 26% Floor Covering 12%

Internal Consumption

Jute products exports from India in 2006-07

Market survey for Yarn

Trend in Export of Jute Yarn Trend of Export of Jute yarn in selected countries
140 120 100 80 '000 MT 60 40 20 0 1999- 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2000 5 Other EU GERMANY UK USA Other World '000 MT 4 3 2 1 0 19992000 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 GERMANY UK USA

Export of Yarn to Europe

70 60 50 40 '000MT 30 20 10 0 19992000 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04

Other EU Germany Turkey UK Belgium

Yarn is consumed mostly by Belgium. Yarn has a growing market in the EU and in other parts of the world Including in the USA. Europe which was the largest producer and user of jute yarn is now dependent on the imported jute yarn mainly form the jute producing countries of Bangladesh and India.

Market survey for Yarn

Share of Jute Yarn in total Export of Jute Products from India

Year 1998/99 1999/00 2000/01 2001/02 2002/03 2003/04 2004/05 (July-December)

Total Product 171.3 166.7 176.5 137.8 255.5 198.5 116.8

% Share 46.23468 50.26995 45.60907 53.0479 34.36399 48.26196 55.99315

[Source:Jute, Kenaf, Sisal Abaca, Coir and Allied Fibres, Statistics, June 2005, Published by FAO]

The trend in the overall exports of jute yarns as shown in the table resulted from an increase from 79.2 MT in 1998-99 to 65.4 MT in 2004-2005 (JulyDecember) reflecting a growth rate of 9.8%. this is an encouraging phenomenon for the jute yarn, amongst the other jute products globally traded.

Market survey for Hessian

Export Trend of Jute Hessian
200 150 '000 MT 100 50 0 1999- 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2000 Other EU GERMANY UK USA Other World

Export of Hessian to EU
60 50 40 '000 MT 30 20 10 0 1999- 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2000 Other EU Germany Turkey UK Belgium

EU and USA are clearly growing markets.

UK is important from consumption point of view.

Turkey and Belgium are important markets. From environmental awareness point of view, Germany is important.

Market Survey of Food grade Jute Bag

Projected growth in Demand of Food grade Jute bags
14000 12000 10000 MT 8000 6000 4000 2000 0 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07
INR Million

Projected growth in demand of Food grade Jute bags

500 400 300 200 100 0 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07

Globally synthetic packaging materials such as polypropylene sacks have been widely accepted for the packaging of agricultural commodities. In the developed countries mechanized bulk handling has also affected the use of Hessian and sacking. India has a success story of developing RBO technology (IJIRA) for developing hydrocarbon free bags particularly used for packing edible commodities. It has been made mandatory by the International Cocoa Organization for the packaging of Cocoa. These bags meet the international specifications of packaging. Besides, producers of cocoa, Coffee, hazelnuts, almonds, Brazilnuts may also feel the utility of packaging these commodities in food grade jute bags. India exports of these bags have increased from 2400 MT in 1999-2000 to 14200 MT in 2000-01 but declined to 5118 MT in 2001-2002;

Market survey for Jute Geo Textiles

Consumption pattern of Geo-Textiles
Trend in the consumption of jute geotextiles by European countries
1400 1200 1000

Synthetic material other natural jute

MTs

800 600 400 200 0 1997-98 1998-99 1999-2000 2000-01 2001-02

Export of Jute Geotextile from India

Jute based Geotextile has a huge market potential, only 1% is Jute at present. The synthetic material market can also potentially switch to more Environment friendly JGT if the functional requirements are met.

14 12 10 8 INR Crores 6 4 2 0 19992000 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04

India

Market survey for Jute Floor covering

Export of Floor covering from India
1400

INR million

1200 1000 800 600 400 200 0 1999-2000 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04

India is the major exporter of floor covering and the value of exports have doubled from INR 487.1 million in 19992000 to INR 1043.7 million in 2003-2004.

In west Europe, Northern America, Japan, and Developed countries the use of the other textile mostly broadloom (Wall to wall), floor coverings (tufted, woven, needle-felt, bonded and knitted carpets) is most important. In developed countries, particularly USA and Germany, there is a high degree of awareness about the dangers of indoor air pollution. Specifically, synthetic wall to wall carpeting in association with carpet glues has been associated with emission of toxic fumes in homes and business in these countries. Accordingly, there is a strong demand for many natural fibre flooring products. Buyers interested in natural fibres carpets also need detailed information regarding the chemical content of the carpets. They ask questions regarding insecticides, organic fertilizers, dyes, bleaches and carpet disposability. All these issues must be satisfactorily addressed before sales of jute carpets, can reach their full potential. People who purchase carpets read the labels carefully. This is partly because carpets are considered a rather expensive luxury item. Information that must be included on the label are cleaning instructions, flammability information, country of origin, fibre content and any special care instructions

Market survey for Jute Shopping bag

Export of shopping bag from India

1200

INR million

1000 800 600 400 200 0 1999- 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2000

Shopping bags clearly have an increasing trend in exports (From INR 286.2 million in 1999-2000 to INR 1065.7 million in 2003-04)

Jute : Product Supply chain

Raw Jute fibre producer: Farmers (Unorganized sector)

Reuse, recycle or disposal: Waste recyclers and disposal authority

Primary and secondary market raw jute supplier

Use of Jute products: Buyers Association and end users

Jute conventional product manufacturer: Jute mills

Jute diversified products : SMEs (Unorganised sector)

Suppliers in the market place

The Unorganized agricultural sector : farmers grow jute and typically sell to primary jute markets The jute merchants form the link between the manufacturers and farmers; Jute conventional product manufacturers; jute mills: domestic and foreign producer and medium size enterprises procure raw jute from jute merchants; Jute diversified product manufacturer: small and medium size enterprises procure basic processed jute (hessians and yarns) for value addition to bags, carpets etc. Buyers association who actually source jute products from manufacturer and supplies to the end user. After the useful life, most jute products can be reused, recycled or disposed through a waste manager as a municipal waste Jute that is wasted can be sent to a waste to energy plant as a climate neutral energy source or disposed in a landfill with methane capture

Life Cycle Impacts (Hessian)

Jute cultivation Social and environmental impacts Manufacturing Process

Resource Recovery Climate neutral energy Durability & Performance

Packaging & Shipping

Environmental Impacts to consumer

Use

LCA Jute Product Example

LCA is product specific (Hessian, IS 2818 I-IV, 40 , 8 OZ., 9 x10). Every product stage is evaluated against each environmental impact category as shown below.

Environmental Impact of Jute Hessian

Stage of the life cycle Environmental input/Output Indicators Energy Renewable/ Nonrenewable Resource Extraction Manufacturing Distribution Use/ Consumption Disposal Recycling n/a XX (6) n/a n/a XX (13) n/a Resources Renewable/ Nonrenewable X (1) X (7) n/a n/a n/a n/a Emission to Water Air Soil Other

XX (2) X (8) n/a n/a n/a n/a

XXX (3) X (9) X (11) n/a XX (14) n/a

XX (4) n/a n/a X (12) n/a n/a

XX (5) XX (10) n/a n/a

Note: source: based on LCI studies X = minor environmental impact XX = medium environmental impact XXX = major environmental impact n/a = information not available

Potential and need for Improvement

Sr. No.
1

Impact
Depletion of nutrient in soil (in terms of N and K).N and K depletion is 0.00174 tonne/tonne and 0.0311 tonne/tonne of dried jute fibre, respectively. Eutrophication due to conventional retting process Green house gas emission (Methane emission during the retting process) Pesticides residue in soil Human Toxicological impact GHG emission Depletion of natural resource (Steam generation from non-renewable fuel) Water pollution

Potential for Improvement

Can be improved by proper dosing of organic fertiliser.

2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Can be improved by changing retting practice Can be improved by changing retting practice Can be improved by restricting the use of pesticide and by introducing the organic farming method Can be improved by introducing organic farming method Can be improved by introducing energy efficiency programmes Can be improved by replacing non renewable by renewable fuel Can be improved by total recycling in Batching process (introducing zero discharge)

Potential and need for Improvement (Contd.)

Sr. No.
9 10

Impact
GHG emission (due to fossil fuel, 0.047 tonne of CO2 per tonne of Hessian) Human Toxicological impact (due to fly ash generated from burning of coal) GHG emission (due to freight) (approx. 0.3 tonne of CO2 per tonne of Hessian) Soil contamination (Heavy metals residue in soil when the application of Hessian is as geotextiles) Renewable energy generation Methane emission

Potential for Improvement

Can be improved by replacing non renewable by renewable fuel Can be improved by replacing non renewable by renewable fuel Out of the scope of controlling from manufacturers end By way of restricting the use of heavy metals present in Rot proof chemical May be used in a waste to energy generation system May be restricted to waste to energy landfill

11 12

13 14

Availability of data

Summary of Data Quality Issues Phase I :Agricultural data Phase II: Manufacturing data Phase III: Disposal data

Data Aspects Time related coverage Geographical coverage Technology coverage

Precision (Variance)
Completeness Representativeness Consistency and Reproducibility

Current Indian legislation for Jute

Jute related:
ACT :

Jute Packaging Materials (Compulsory Use in Packing Commodities) Act 1987 JMDC ACT 1983 Jute Manufacturers Cess Act 1983

ORDERS :

Jute & Jute Textile Control ORDER of 19th April 2000

Jute & Jute Textile Control ( Amendment ) ORDER 2002

Powers under Jute Packaging Act; ORDER of 26th August 1987 Mandatory Jute Packaging ORDER of 28th September, 2004 Jute Batching Oil Order of 28th August 2001 Jute Bags Marking Order of 4th July, 2002
RULES :

JMDC Procedural Rules 1984 Jute Packaging Materials Rules of 26th August 1987

Current Indian legislation for Jute

Water Act and amendments The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Act, 1977, The Air Act and amendments Environmental (Protection) Act and rules Prohibition on the handling of Azodyes Rules The Manufacture, Storage and import of Hazardous Chemical Rules, 1989 and Amendment rules 2000 The Hazardous Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules, 1989 and Amendment rules 2000 and 2003 Notification regarding Dumping and disposal of fly ash discharged from coal or lignite based thermal power plants on land S.O.123(E), [14/2/2000] - Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000 and Amendment rules 2002 The Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991, Amended, 1992/ Rules1991 as amended, 1993. The Indian Electricity Act, 2003 & Rules 1956 as amended in 2002 Contract Labour (Regulation & Abolition) Act, 970 & Its Central Rule 1971 The WorkmensCompensation Act 1923 as amended up to 2002/ Rules, 1923 as amended, 1998 The Factories Act 1948 (as amended till 2001) The Boilers Acts 1923 (as amended in 1962) & Rules 1950

Current Indian legislation for Jute

The Child Labour Prohibition and Regulation Act 1986 The Equal Remuneration Act, 1976

The Minimum Wages Act, 1948

The Plantations Labour Act, 1951 The Industrial Disputes Act, 1947 Contract Labour (Regulation & Abolition) Act, 1970 & Its Central Rule 1971 The Workmens Compensation Act 1923 as amended up to 2002/ Rule 1923 as amended, 1998 The Payment of wages Act, 1936 The Employers Provident Funds & Miscellaneous Funds Act, 1952 The Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972 The Industrial Employment Standing Orders Act, 1946 The Indian Electricity Act, 2003 & Rules 1956 as amended in 2002 The Personal Injuries (Compensation Insurance) Act, 1963 The Trade Unions Act, 1926 Labour Welfare Fund Act, 1959 & Rules (some states) Dangerous Machines Act & Rules Employers Liability Act Payment of Bonus Act & Payment of Bonus Rules Employees Provident Fund Scheme

International Treaties / Conventions / Declarations India signatory

The following Treaties/ conventions/ declarations are signed by India: Agenda 21 Rio Declaration Stockholm 1972 Convention on Biological Diversity Convention to Combat Desertification Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), (signed by India, but yet to be ratified) Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) World Trade Agreement Helsinki Protocol to LRTAP on the Reduction of Sulphur Emissions or their Transboundary Fluxes by at least 30 percent Sofia Protocol to LRTAP concerning the Control of Emissions of Nitrogen Oxides or their Transboundary Fluxes (NOx Protocol) Geneva Protocol to LRTAP concerning the Control of Emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds or their Transboundary Fluxes (VOCs Protocol) United Nations Conference on the Human Environment United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) Framework Convention on Climate Change (FCCC) Convention Secretariats of the UNEP

Packaging and Waste laws in EU and USA

EU specific: Dyes that is carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic to reproduction: Council Directive 67/548/EEC of 27 June 1967 on the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions relating to the classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous substances (1), and its subsequent amendments. Directive on the landfill of waste: COM (91) 102 (OJ C 190, 22.7.91): as amended by COM (93) 275 1999/31/EC- Landfill Directive Statutory Instrument 2002 No. 2980 The Waste Incineration (England and Wales) Regulations 2002 EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 94/62/EC of 20 December 1994 on packaging and packaging waste LANDFILL DIRECTIVE REGULATORY GUIDANCE NOTE 5 (version 1.2 January 2003) Waste Framework directive, (75/442) Hazardous wate directive (91/689) EWC (2001)- included hazourdous and non hazardous into one consolidated list Landfill regulation , 2002 UK specific: The Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Regulations 1997 (as amended) the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste)(Amendment) Regulations SI 1999 No. 1361 the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste)(Amendment)(No.2) Regulations SI 1999 No. 3447 the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste)(Amendment)(England and Wales) Regulations SI 2000 No.3375. the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste) Amendment (Scotland) Regulations 2000 (SSI 2000 No. 451) the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste)(Amendment)(England) Regulations SI 2002 No. 732 the Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste)(Amendment)(Scotland) Regulations 2002 SI 2002 No. 147 The Producer Responsibility Obligations (Packaging Waste)(Amendment)(Wales) Regulations 2002 SI 813 (W.93) 1972 - Deposit of Poisionous Waste Act - cyanides etc 1974 - Control of Pollution Act dilute and disprese (or attenuate) + licencing of facilties 1990 - Control of Pollution Act separated regulation from operation The UK Environmental Protection Act 1990 German specific: German Packaging Law (GERMPACK) Germany's packaging take-back law

Packaging and Waste laws in EU and USA

USA specific Identification of Solid and Hazardous Wastes (40 CFR Part 261) Land Disposal Restrictions (LDRs) (40 CFR Part 268) Used Oil Management Standards (40 CFR Part 279) Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act Emergency Planning And Community Right-To-Know Act Clean Water Act Safe Drinking Water Act Toxic Substances Control Act Clean Air Act Clean Water Act (CWA) Clean Air Act (CAA) Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) , 1976

Questionnaire for stakeholder consultation

Questionnaire please mark one or more options Q1. Do you consider jute to be eco-friendly alternative to synthetic products? Please explain. (To know more about Indian jute please visit http://www.jmdcindia.com)

Q2. What do you think are the major economic and environmental barriers to the use of jute?
a) b) c) d) plastic and other synthetics are cheaper synthetics are easier to recycle and/or dispose as compared to jute jute has more environmental impacts as compared to synthetics any other, please write

Questionnaire for stakeholder consultation contd

Q3. Which part of the life cycle of jute do you consider an environmental issue? Please explain your choice. a) b) c) d) e) f) agricultural practices of jute manufacture of jute products transportation of jute goods use of jute as packaging material, carpets, bags etc. disposal of jute to the environment any other

Q4. How do you think jute should be disposed in your country / local context? a) jute should be incinerated b) jute should be landfilled in managed landfills c) jute should be used in a garden or in farming to blend with soil d) jute should be recycled for alternate materials such as non-woven fabrics that are used in gardening

Questionnaire for stakeholder consultation contd

Q5. Which industries in your country use jute?

a) b) c) d) e)

packaging of food and non-food products jute bags, Hessian sacks etc. carpet and floor coverings shopping bags and decorative items geo-textiles in civil engineering applications soil saver, slope protection etc. any other use such as in automobiles etc. please state if any.

Q6. If environmental information on jute is made available through an ecolabel, do you think there could be wider acceptance of jute products? Please explain.

Q7. If your answer to Q6 was yes, then how the ecolabel should be propagated in your country? a) by engaging product associations b) by advertising in magazines / newspapers c) by launching a website on eco-jute products d) any other

Questionnaire for stakeholder consultation contd

Q8. Are you aware of any buyer who purchased any of the jute products like jute yarn, hessian, Food grade jute bags, Floor covering, shopping bags and Jute Geotextiles from India?(Please specify the No. of buyers) a) 1 b) 1-10 c) 10-20 d) More than 20 Q9. What are the other competing alternate products(synthetic or natural) to the following jute products in your country? Jute Products Competing Alternatives(Both synthetic and natural) Jute Yarn Hessian Food grade Jute bags Shopping bags Floor covering Jute Geotextiles

Questionnaire for stakeholder consultation contd

Q10. If you have any query or comment, please feel free to share with us. Your comments:

Thank you for taking time to respond. We would like to share information with you periodically and be grateful if you respond with your comments and suggestions.

Results of Consultation with interested parties in Indian jute industry

To select the product category, initial consultation was made with interested parties, mostly suppliers of both conventional and diversified jute products. The overall consultation process regarding Jute products can be concluded as follows:
Issue Response

What are the main competing products?

Plastic, cotton for yarn Plastic, Polypropylene, paper, coir for Hessian Polypropylene bag for Food grade jute bag Synthetic Floor covering, Linoleum Floor covering for Floor covering Plastic shopping bag for Jute Shopping bag Synthetic Geotextiles, Paper mulch mat for Jute Geotextiles
Jute yarn has diversified use. Although major part of the exported jute yarn is used for carpet manufacturing process. Jute Hessian is used as Packaging material, Sacking, geotextile, CBC,Shopping bag Food grae jute bags are used for packaging of some specific grain like cocoa, coffee etc. Jute Geotextiles are used as Soil saver, slope protector, in gardening etc. Floor covering are generally used as floor runner Shopping bag are used for shopping, or given as promotional purpose. USA, UK, Belgium, Turkey, Germany, Japan, etc. the fact that any disposal option of the used jute goods are not documented anywhere. Whereas the disposal protocol is available for other packaging material, whether it is plastics or some other synthetic product. So buyers are facing a problem in time of ultimate disposal of the jute goods due to non-availability of disposal protocol. There is an urgent need of documented disposal protocol so that at the time of disposal buyer can follow the direction or can avail the recycle option, if any. One of the objectives of the proposed ecolabel is the protocol for disposal and recycling to substantiate the jute industrys claim of the biodegradable and ecofriendly nature of jute. So the target audience of the proposed study will be the buyers trade bodies or association (like ICCO) or Government councils who should be convinced in order to bring the ecolabel in force/use. These bodies will ultimately play role in convincing their hierarchy.

Mention the use of the Jute products Which countries are the major market for Indian Jute Hessian? What are the environmental considerations mentioned by buyers or what you consider important?

Results of Consultation with interested parties in Indian jute industry

Issue What is the disposal practices for Jute product in importing countries? Response There is no documented disposal protocol for jute. If we look at the lifecycle of jute bags in EU and US countries, then the inflow process is rather two fold. Jute bags are either used for domestic commodities carrying (mainly potatoes are packed in jute bags in EU countries) purpose or for sending the food aids to Developing countries. In previous case the disposal is not documented and so need to be addressed. Jute bags are reused in developing countries. Within the developed country, the food grade jute bags are generally used for twice; eg. initially for packaging of hazel nuts followed by packaging of some other product like potato etc. No proper documentation is available on the further use of the bag.

How many times these are used / reused before disposal?

Not specified For the legal requirements in imported country we have to look into the different interfaces of local municipal laws and disposal protocols, along with if any type of restriction is imposed on importing articles (that is, regarding dyes, paints etc.)

What are the legal requirements in the importing countries?

USA, EU, China

What are the emerging market for jute products? Ecolabel is expected to clearly mention about the disposal protocol as well as to established the fact that throughout its life cycle it creates positive environmental impacts

What according to you should the ecolabel contain?

Socio-economic footprint of jute

In the National Jute Policy 2005, Government of India recognizes the importance of jute to farmers and workers, and to the economy of jute growing states, and its special ecological importance world-wide, resolved that the jute industry will receive a fresh impetus in all respects. Government recognizes the significance of jute in Indias economy, providing sustenance to more than 4 million people (who earn less than a dollar a day per family) including jute farmers, workmen, labourers and self employed artisans and weavers, especially in the Eastern and North-eastern parts of the country, where it is the main stay of agro based industries. World over, it has been recognized that jute and allied fibres occupy a unique position as ecofriendly, bio-degradable renewable natural fibres with substantial value addition at each stage of processing. Government also recognizes the fact that this important sector of the economy has not been given its due importance in the recent past.

Socio-economics of Jute
Jute provides not just raw material for industry but a life support system for over 4 million farmers, 6 million workers in auxiliary industries and innumerable thousands of lives virtually entwined in the bright twists of this golden fibre. The jute industry is considered to be one of the most labour intensive, providing direct employment to about 2.61 million workers. Moreover, it supports the livelihood of around 4 million farm families and around 1.4 million people engaged in tertiary sector and allied activities. It is estimated that nearly 80 million people depend on jute cultivation, trade and industry, directly or indirectly, wholly or partly, for their livelihood. In addition to this, there are over 50,000 workers engaged in the jute mills who are not in the Companys Pay Roll.

Sustainability vision for Jute

In its vision for the Jute sector, the Government of India recognizes that the Indian Jute Sector is endowed with multifaceted advantages and hence it shall be the policy of the Government to develop a strong and vibrant sector that can: Ensure remunerative prices to the jute farmers in the country; Produce good quality fibre and products to meet the growing needs of the country and international buyers; Increasingly contribute to the provision of sustainable employment and the economic growth of the nation; and Compete with confidence for an increasing share of the global market.

WTO on Jute
Negotiations on environmental goods presently taking place in Negotiating group on non-agricultural market access (NAMA) with the definitional aspects being examined by Committee on Trade and Environment (CTE)-special session Many developing countries including India (TN/MA/W/10) have supported inclusion of environmentally friendly products such as jute products or those based on biodiversity, but no specific list has been submitted to the negotiating group on Non-Agricultural Market Access NAMA.