Is Burlap Fabric Environment-Friendly?
If you are planning to use burlap fabric for your next craft, it’s great. Not just because a craft made of burlap fabric looks good but also because the fabric is environmentally-friendly. And you very well know about the increasing demand for environmentally-friendly items. By using burlap, you are benefiting yourself as well as your environment.Â
 Derived from a natural fiber known as jute, the burlap fabric decomposes quickly in outdoor settings. But, this doesn’t mean your craft will decompose because the fabric exhibits superior strength as well. If no chemicals are used for treating burlap, it’s purely organic, making it environment-friendly.Â
 Burlap takes around 4 to 6 months to degrade, depending on the elements it is exposed to. Even if you throw burlap-crafted items in a compost heap or soil, they will break down easily without impacting the environment.Â
 No negative impact of burlap fabric is on the environment but exceptions are always there. I(n some cases, the chemical treatment is applied by producers with a motive. If you pick such chemical-treated burlap fabric, you will do no favor to the environment. Some of the chemicals used for treating burlap are copper sulfate, pesticides/fungicides, dye, flame retardants, and detergents.Â
 By now, you might have understood that burlap fabric is environment-friendly. And undoubtedly, it’s a better option than other fabric types for craft making.Â
 More strong reasons to choose burlap fabric over other fabric typesÂ
Composed of organic jute plants, the burlap fabric is a durable, tough woven fabric. The fabric is characterized by natural breathability.Â
Compared to other fabric types, the burlap fabric is heavier, stronger, and more durable. This fabric is used in several applications, indoors as well as outdoors. For example, burlap is used for bags, flood barriers, sack rack bags, and storing tools. Other than this, the fabric is used to make home decor items. Sometimes, the burlap fabric is used as sandbags, which defines its superiority.Â
The quality of burlap fabric varies from broad, weave, and coarse. If you are using the fabric for home decor or sewing projects, you should choose a finer weave. On the other hand, if you are using fabric to protect plants outdoors, you should prefer using the coarse quality.
 How should you differentiate between natural and faux burlap fabric?
This is one very important thing that you should know when using burlap fabric for craft making because natural and faux burlap fabric looks very similar. Just by seeing the fabric, it will be challenging for you to differentiate. To make the process easy, you should consider a few very important points:
Burlap fabric made of jute or any other natural element is coarse   (rough/scratchy) compared to other faux burlap fabric that is soft to   touch.Â
As natural burlap is made from plant fibers, they are prone to shedding tiny fibers or burlap lint while faux burlap fabric doesn’t shed at all.Â
The natural burlap fabric is not machine-treated so it has naturally occurring imperfections and blemishes. On the other hand, the faux burlap fabric resists wrinkles and stains because it is chemically and machine-treated.Â
Natural burlap fabric has a distinct earthy scent while faux burlap fabric has some unusual scent.
Use burlap fabric for a beautiful craft and to protect your environment.Â