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Supply Chain Characteristics that Impact Traceability

Traceability Takeaways

  • Demand for jute is increasing due to a growing market interest in more eco-friendly fabrics to replace synthetics. Traceability systems should be flexible and easy to scale to keep up with the expected expansion of the supply chains.1Development Research Network. Jute Value Chain in Bangladesh: Information and Knowledge Gaps of Smallholders. LIRNEasia, December 2011, lirneasia.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Jute-Value-Chain-in-Bangladesh_final.pdf.
  • Child labor is associated with the production of jute in Bangladesh specifically.2Chanani, S. et al. “Challenges to increasing visibility and support for children in Bangladesh’s informal ready-made garment factories.” Business Strategy and Development, 25 March 2022, onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/bsd2.204. Traceability systems that verify product origins could be used to signal when additional due diligence to prevent child labor is required.

Nature of Labor Rights Risk/Vulnerable Workers

Child Labor cited by U.S. Government

Risk of Child Labor cited by other source

Documented presence of migrant workers

Documented presence of other vulnerable workers

Documented presence or significant likelihood of third-party labor recruiters

Forced Labor or Trafficking in Persons cited by U.S. Government

Risk of Forced Labor or Trafficking in Persons cited by other source

Features of Production and Supply Chain

Large numbers of dispersed, unorganized, or informal small producers or other worksites

Multiple points of aggregation, co-mingling, and/or transformation across supply chain

Complex/opaque supply chains and/or lack of vertical integration

High degree of flexibility in procurement practices of downstream entities

Distribution of Labor Risk in Various Production Areas

Scale or nature of risk varies significantly based on geographic area of production

Scale or nature of risk is strongly associated with certain types of suppliers/entities

Scale or nature of risk is present across multiple tiers or nodes of supply chain (including in associated downstream or upstream goods)

  • The nature of risk varies based on geographic area of production because the risk of child labor is associated with Bangladesh and, more specifically, with rural production sites. A favorable climate and good supply of water is required for raw jute production, limiting production to those geographical areas.16Development Research Network. Jute Value Chain in Bangladesh: Information and Knowledge Gaps of Smallholders. LIRNEasia, December 2011, lirneasia.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Jute-Value-Chain-in-Bangladesh_final.pdf.

Linked Upstream and Downstream Risks

Risk in Nodes in Textiles (Jute) Production

The jute cultivation takes place during rainy seasons and requires long daylight for growth. The land preparation process involves weeding and ploughing. Once the seeds have matured, they are harvested, bundled together and then go through the process of retting, which involves them being put under water. Following the retting process, the fiber is separated from the sticks by hand and dried in the sun to be ready for sale.17Development Research Network. Jute Value Chain in Bangladesh: Information and Knowledge Gaps of Smallholders. LIRNEasia, December 2011, lirneasia.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Jute-Value-Chain-in-Bangladesh_final.pdf.

The raw jute fibers then pass through traders (whether small or medium) before being sold on to larger miller’s agents (both private and governmental). At jute mills, the jute fibers are made into yarn. The jute yarn can then be passed on to jute diversified products producers, making products such as shopping bags and handbags. The jute products pass through buying agents before being exported to the global market or moved on within the same country.18Development Research Network. Jute Value Chain in Bangladesh: Information and Knowledge Gaps of Smallholders. LIRNEasia, December 2011, lirneasia.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/Jute-Value-Chain-in-Bangladesh_final.pdf.

Jute cultivation

Jute yarn production

Jute textile production

Associated Downstream Goods and Consumer Sectors

Household Goods

Jute fiber and yarn can be used to make twine, rope, and mat. Jute matting can be used to prevent flood erosion due to its desirable biodegradable fiber.

Jute fibers can be used to make pulp and paper.

Agriculture

Jute fibers and yarn can be used to make jute cloth for purposes such as wrapping bales of raw cotton.

Textiles Apparel and Luxury Goods

Jute is used in the manufacturing of a number of fabrics and can be diversified to make products more useful to consumers, such as bags and Espadrilles (footwear).

Top Global Countries

  1. India19List of Exporters for the Selected Product in 2021. Product : 5310 Woven fabrics of jute or of other textile bast fibres of heading 5303, ITC Trade Map, www.trademap.org/Country_SelProduct.aspx?nvpm=1%7c%7c%7c%7c%7c5310%7c%7c%7c4%7c1%7c1%7c2%7c1%7c1%7c2%7c1%7c1%7c1 .
  2. Bangladesh
  3. Nepal
  4. Pakistan
  5. China
  6. Germany
  7. Netherlands
  8. United States of America
  9. Belgium
  10. Italy
  1. India20Crops and Livestock Products. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QCL .
  2. Bangladesh
  3. Uzbekistan
  4. China
  5. Nepal
  6. South Sudan
  7. Zimbabwe
  8. Egypt
  9. Vietnam
  10. Bhutan

 

Examples & Resources: Traceability Efforts Associated With Textiles (Jute)

Footnotes