The Sonali Bag, also known as the Golden Bag, Jute Polymer, or Eco-friendly Poly Bag (in Bengali: সোনালী ব্যাগ), represents a groundbreaking biodegradable bioplastic. Crafted as a sustainable alternative to traditional plastic bags, especially polythene ones, this innovation hails from Bangladesh, thanks to the efforts of scientist Mubarak Ahmad Khan. The primary ingredient in the Sonali Bag is cellulose, derived from jute, a globally cultivated vegetable fiber crop.[1][2][3]
In 2002, Bangladesh imposed a ban on polythene bags due to rising environmental concerns.[1][2] This legislative move spurred research into natural fiber composite (NFC) materials as potential replacements for polythene. Mubarak Ahmad Khan, a scientist at Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission, in collaboration with other researchers from Bangladesh, developed a range of NFC material in a decades-long effort. Subsequently, in 2018, Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation (BJMC) started the commercial production of Sonali Bag using a Jute-based NFC developed by Mubarak Ahmad Khan.[4][5][6][7][2] The product was named "Sonali Bag" (sonali is Bengali for "golden") by Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, a nod to jute's denomination as the 'Golden Fiber'.[8]